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PRESENTED  BY 

PRESTON    DAVIE 

OCTOBER,    1929 

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UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


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HELIOTYPe   PRINTINQ   CO.    BOSTON. 


Memorials  of  Academic  Life  : 


BEING  AN 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH 


OF 


The  ¥addel  Family, 

IDENTIFIED  THROUGH  THREE  GENERATIONS  WITH  THE  HISTORY 
OF  THE  HIGHER  EDUCATION  IN  THE  SOUTH  AND  SOUTHWEST. 


BY 

JOHN  N.  WADDEL,  D.D.,  LL.D., 

EX-CHANCELLOR  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  MISSISSIPPI,   ANB  OF  THE 
SOUTHWESTERN  PRESBYTERIAN  UNIVERSITY. 


RICHMOND,  VA.: 

Pkesbyterian  Coivr\nTTEE  OF  Publication. 
1891. 


Copyright 

BY 

James  K.  Hazen,  Secretary  of  Publication, 
189  1. 


Pkinted  by 
Whittet  &  Sheppebson, 

ElCHMOND,  Ya. 

Electeotyped  by 
L.  Lewis, 
Richmond,  Va. 


1^0  mg  WiUt 


"Who,  atter  my  Long  Yeaks  of  Alternate  Tkiai.  and  KELrEF,  was 

SENT    TO   jME   by   A   GkACIOUS    PRO^rTDENCE,    AT   A    TiME    OP    DeEP 

Earthly  Gloom,  as  a  Light  and  a  Joy;  and  amid  the 
Changes  of  a  Busy  Life,  a  Sympathising  Friend, 
A  Wise  Counsellor,  and  Unselfish  Sharer 
IN  Joy  and  Sorrow;  an  Earnest  Help- 
meet in  all  ^iy  "Work,  for  a 
Quarter  Century, 

Is  most  Aefectionately  Dedicated, 
By  a  Devoted  Husband, 

THE    AUTHOR. 


r 


PREFACE. 


THE  greater  portion  of  a  life,  now  protracted  l:)eyond  the 
limit  assigned  to  man,  having  been  spent  in  close  con- 
nection with  the  practical  work  of  education  in  the  South 
and  Southw^est,  and  my  individual  labors  having  been  de- 
voted, to  a  far  greater  extent,  to  the  public  institutions  of 
the  land  of  my  birth  than  to  any  private  enterprises  of  my 
own,  some  of  my  most  intimate  and  judicious  friends, 
in  whose  candor  and  sincerit}^  I  repose  the  utmost  confi- 
dence, have,  more  than  once,  suggested  the  propriety  of  my 
committing  to  permanent  record  the  reminiscences  con- 
nected with  educational  history  familiar  to  me.  In  addition 
to  these  suggestions  from  private  sources,  I  have  been  ap- 
plied to  by  gentlemen  sustaining  important  relations  to  the 
Bureau  of  Education,  Department  of  the  Interior,  to  aid 
those  engaged  in  collecting  the  annals  of  the  educational 
history  of  South  Carolina.  These  annals  have  I'eference,  so 
far  as  I  am  concerned,  especially  to  ''  AYillington  Academy," 
founded  by  Dr.  Moses  AYaddel,  where  so  many  distinguished 
men  of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia  were  trained  under  his 
superintendence. 

This  w^ork  has  been  undertaken  by  me  not  without  a  pro- 
found sense  of  my  inadequacy  to  the  successful  accomplish- 
ment of  the  task  and  a  consciousness  of  my  deficiency  in  the 
great  qualities  essential  to  authorship. 

Let  it  be  kept  in  view,  however,  that  in  such  a  work  as  is 
here  contemplated,  much  of  the  private  life  of  my  father 

5 


6  Preface. 

must  necessarily  be  included,  and  its  details  may  furnish 
little  of  interest  to  tlie  mass  of  readers.  His  contempora- 
ries haye  long  since  passed  away  in  the  vast  majority.  Be- 
sides, "  the  short  and  simple  annals  "  of  a  teacher's  life  hold 
out  a  small  attraction  for  any  but  his  immediate  descend- 
ants. There  are  readers,  however,  who  will  feel  interested 
in  the  biography  of  men  whose  labors  were  given,  as  his 
were,  always  to  unselfish  public  work.  I  offer  no  apology 
f9r  accompanying  this  publication  with  some  account  of  his 
life  and  labors,  inasmuch  as  the  results  of  his  labors,  being 
matters  of  history,  will  naturally  awaken  some  desire,  even 
in  the  present  generation  of  readers,  to  know  somewhat  of 
the  life  and  character  of  the  man  himself. 

This,  then,  in  part,  will  serve  to  explain  my  purpose  in 
undertaking  to  furnish  this  narrative.  But  it  will  be  con- 
ceded that  it  would  fall  short  very  far  of  a  record  of 
the  entire  history  of  Southern  and  Southwestern  educa- 
tion were  it  to  comprise  only  a  notice  of  its  progress  under 
one  of  its  earlier  agents,  however  important  his  labors 
may  have  been.  Each  age  has  its  own  workers,  and  each 
can  furnish  only  its  individual  contribution  to  the  history 
of  the  whole. 

As  some  small  part  of  this  history,  showing  the  successive 
advance  of  this  great  cause,  so  as  to  bring  the  present  gen- 
eration into  jDersonal  association  with  its  progress,  I  venture 
to  incorporate  in  the  work  the  amount  of  my  personal 
knowledge  and  identit}^  with  the  history.  It  may  furnish 
future  writers,  so  far  as  it  is  presented,  a  foundation  for  its 
continuance.  I  propose  to  cover  this  second  era  in  the 
record  with  a  narrative  of  my  personal  connection  with  the 
cause.  It  will  extend  over  a  j)eriod  of  some  sixty  years, 
embracing  reminiscences  of  private  work,  as  well  as  that  of 
those  public  institutions  of  which  I  formed  part  of  the  corps 
of  instructors. 
. .  Jn  this  case,  as  in  the  case  of  Bev.  Dr.  Moses  Waddel,  it 


Preface.  7 

is  impossible  to  avoid  statements  of  fact  that  will  be  eu- 
tii-ely  personal,  inasmuch  as  the  work  done  by  me  durino- 
my  manhood,  and  within  the  half  century  now  near  its  close, 
has  been  almost  solely  the  work  of  education.  Conse- 
quently, if  I  write  on. that  subject,  I  must  write,  more  or 
less,  of  myself.  I  trust,  however,  that  though  these  state- 
ments of  details  of  private  hfe  might  prove  to  my  readers 
somewhat  dry  and  unattractive  taken  alone,  they  may, 
nevertheless,  be  somewhat  tolerated  upon  the  ground  that, 
interspersed  through  the  narrative  will  be  found,  of  neces- 
sity, allusions  to  and  sketches  of  eminent  and  distinguished 
characters  with  whom  I  was  incidentally  associated,  and  of 
many  of  my  own  contemporaries  and  classmates,  who  after- 
wards reached  distinction  in  their  several  pursuits  and  pro- 
fessions. 

The  period  covered  by  this  record  embraces  much  of  mo- 
mentous interest  and  importance  to  our  country  and  to  the 
world,  exerting  more  or  less  of  influence  upon  the  history 
of  education,  in  not  only  intellectual  training,  but  in  the 
events  of  the  pohtical  world,  as  well  as  in  scientific  and 
Christian  civilization.  A  bare  allusion  to  these  facts  will 
serve  to  recall  them  to  many  now  living  and  acting.  When 
we  mention  the  Nullification  ordinance  of  1832  in  South 
Carolina,  and  the  compromise  of  1833  ;  the  Abohtion  move- 
ment; the  Kansas  and  Nebraska  excitement;  the  Mexican 
war  and  the  annexation  of  Texas  ;  the  civil  war  between  the 
States  I  and  the  emancipation  of  the  slaves  of  the  South; 
then  turning  from  this  political  crowd  of  grand  events,  and 
thinking  of  the  advance  of  this  land  and  all  others  in  all 
imaginable  and  unimaginable  forms  of  invention  and  dis- 
covery in  science,  and  lastly,  the  progress  made  in  the  vic- 
tories of  the  Christian  religion,  the  conclusion  is  inevitable, 
that  never  in  any  previous  three-quarter  century  has  the 
world  made  progress  so  illustrious  as  the  present  era  has 
exhibited  in  such  rapid  succession. 


C  0  J(  T  E  i\  T  S. 


EEV.  MOSES  WADDEL,  D.  D. 


CHAPTER  I. 
Sketch  of  Parents. — Emigration  to  America. — Birth  of  Moses  Wad- 
del.— Schools  of  his  Childhood  to  his  Fonrteenth  Year, 25 

CHAPTER  IL 
Invitation  to  Teach  Declined.— Father's  Reasons. — Views  of  the 
Son  then  and  in  after  Life.— First  Engagements  as  Teacher. — 
Filial  Disobedience. — Results. — Reflections, 30 

CHAPTER  III. 
Resumes  Teaching. — Dancing  Parties. — Wavering  Resolutions. — 
Final  Decision. — Religious  Impressions. — Public  Profession  of 
Religion, . 33 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Spiritual  Conflicts. —Tenderness  of  Conscience. —Methods  of  Re- 
lief.—Final  Victory, 36 

CHAPTER  V. 
Resolution  to  Enter  the  Ministry,  and  to  Complete  the  Preliminary^ 
Education. —Enters     Hampden-Sidney     College. — Candidate,. 
Under  Care  of  Presbytery  of  Hanover. — Licensure  and  Dis- 
missal to  Presbytery  of  South  Carolina, 41 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Removals. — First  and  Second  Marriages. —First  and  Second  Loca- 
tions.— Pupils,  Calhoun  and  Crawford, 44 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Willington  Academy, — Building  and  Character  of  the  Institution. — 
Methods  of  Instruction  and  Discipline, --  43 

9 


10  Contents. 

CHAPTER  Till. 
-Improvement  in  the  Building. — Organization  of  the  Church. — Re- 
vival iu  the  Academy  and  Neighborhood. — Results, 53 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Further  Notice  of  the  Government  and  Discif)line  of  the  Williug- 
tou  Academy. — Domestic  History  of   Dr.    Waddel   and  his 
Family, 56 

CHAPTER  X. 
Conferring  of  the  Degree  of  D.  D.  — Foreigners  Receiving  Instruc- 
tion from  him  in  English.  — An  Incident.  — Style  of  Old-Fash- 
ioned  Church  Building. — Mode  of  Conducting  the  Music  and 
of  Administering  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper,. 61 

CHAPTER  XL 
Work  Accomplished  as  a  Teacher.  — Men  Trained  by  him  who  Be- 
came Distinguished.  —  Correction  of  a  Statement  in  Parton's 
Life  of  Andrew  Jackson. — Arrangements  for  Retiring  from 
Teaching, 67 

CHAPTER  XXL 
"Memoir  of  Caroline  Elizabeth  Smelt. — Removal  to  Athens. — Pre- 
vious Histoiy  of  the  University. — Condition  of  Buildings  and 
Endowment  Prospects, ,     71 

CHAPTER  XIIL 
Sketches  of  Dr.  Waddel's  Colleagues  of  the  Faculty  from  1819  to 

1820, 77 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
University  Administration  During  Dr.  Waddel's  Presidency. — His 
Life  iu  Athens. — His  Services  to  the  Cause  of  Christian  Edu- 
cation,       92 

CHAPTER  XV. 
Dio  Waddel's  Objects  in  View  in  Accepting  the  Presidency  of  the 
University. — Successful  Results. — Close  of  his  Term  of  Ser- 
vice.— Resignation, 100 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
Death  of  Mrs.  Waddel. — Manner  of  Life  in  Retirement. — Churches 
he  Served.  — His  Associates  Among  His  Ministerial  Brethren. 
Last  Sickness  and  Death, 119 


Contents.  IX. 


WILLIAM  HENRY  WADDEL. 

Memorial  Kecord  of  the  Life,  Labors,  and  Character  of  William 
Hemy  Waddel,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Georgia, -.- 129 

APPENDIX. 

I.  Mural  Tablet  in  Williugton  Church, 138 

II.   Mural  Tablet  in  Athens  Church, 138 

III.  Inscription  on  Pillar  at  Cemetery 139 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 


CHAPTER  I. 
Birth  and  Some  Reminiscences  of  My  First  Seven  Years, 143 

CHAPTER  II. 
My  Preparatory  School -Days  in  Athens,  Ga., 150 

CHAPTER  IIL 
■College  Life  in  the  University  of  Georgia, 167 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Beflections. — Sketch  of  Athens  Life  After  Graduation. — Removal 
to  South  Carolina,  and  Prosj^ects  of  Beginning  the  Life  of  a 
Teacher, 181 

CHAPTER  V. 
First  School.     Death  of  My  Mother.  —Life  in  the  Country.  —A  Col- 
lege Associate. — My  Habits, 186 

CHAPTER  YL 
Feelings   and   Views  on  the  Subject  of   Religion. — My  Father's 
Preaching,  and  my  Estimate  of  it  at  that  Time,  — Some  Notice 
of  George  McDuffie  and  Others, 193 

CHAPTER  VIL 
Courtship  and  First  Marriage, 202 


3I2-"  Contents. 

CHAPTER  YIII. 
Incidents,  Public  and  Private,  in  1832-'33.— Sketch  of  J.  C.   Cal- 
houn. — Nullification, 206 

CHAPTEPt  IX. 
Purchase  of  Land  in  Alabama. — Removal. — Signal  Providential 

Interference  in  My  Behalf, . 218 

CHAPTER  X. 
Four  Years'  Residence  in  Alabama,  with  its  Consequences,  and 

Another  Removal, 223 

CHAPTER  XL 
A  Visit  to  South  Carolina,  and  Removal  of  Family  to  Mississippi. 
— Business  Settlements  in  Mobile,  and  Incident  There. — New 
Home,___„ 232 

CHAPTER  XII. 
Prosecution  of  Ministerial  Studies.  — Licensure  b j^  the  Presbytery 

of  Mississippi. — Places  of  my  First  Year's  Preaching, 237 

CHAPTER  XIIL 
Establishment  and  Organization  of  Montrose  Academy. — Its  Pro- 
gress and  Influence. — Supply  of  Religious  Destitutions. — Diffi- 
culties,   241 

CHAPTER  XIY. 
More  Sorrow. — Incorporation  of  Board  of  Trustees  of  University 
of  the  State. — Proceedings  of  the   Board. — Coming  Events 
Foreshadowed,  .    246 

CHAPTER  XV. 
Election  of  Faculty  of  the  University. — Initiatory  Difficulties. — 
Farewell  Sermons. — Removal  to  Oxford,  and  Formal  Open- 
ing,   ___. 251 

CHAPTER  XVL 
General  Educational  History  of  Mississippi, 257 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
Preparatory  Steps  for  the  Opening  of  the  University.  — Erection  of 

Buildings  and  Inauguration  Ceremonies, 260 


CONT'ENTS.  13 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
General  View  of  Matters  Connected  with  the  First  Session  of  the 

University, 266 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
Annual   Meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. — Election  of  Presi- 
dent.— Some  Statistics. — Sketch  of  President  Longstreet  and 
Others, 27? 

CHAPTER  XX. 
Brief  Sketches  of  the  Chartered  Board, 287 

CHAPTER  XXI. 


Financial  History, 292 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
Statistical  Statements, 298 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 
Changes  and  Additions  in  the  Faculty  from  Time  to  Time. — Dan- 
ville Theological  Seminary. — Other  Changes  in  the  Course  of 
Study,  and  Other  Facts, 301 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
Review  of  Private  and  Domestic  History  from  1848  to  1857, 30^ 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
Establishment  of  a  Church  CollegG  by  the  Synod  of  Memphis. — 
Election  of  a  Faculty. — Discussion  in  Relation  to  tho  Loca- 
tion.— Choice  of  La  Orange,  Tennessee, 319 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 
Reluctance   on   my  Part  to   Leaving   Mississippi. — Inducements 
Held  Out. — Resignation  and  Removal  to  La  Grange. — Action 
of  Faculty  and  Studertson  my  Resignation, 324 

CHAPTER  XXVIL 
Visit  to  the  North,  and  Opening  Prospects  of  the  College  in  1857. 

General  Train  of  V/ork, 328 

CHAPTER  XXVIIL 
Sketches  of  the  Faculty. —Rev.  John  H.  Gray,  D.  D.— Professor 

J.  R.  Blake.  -  Professor  James  L.  Meigs, 334 


J4  Contents. 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
Second  Session. —General  Character  of  the  "Work. — Mode  of  Dis- 
cipline. — Progress  of  the  Endowment, 345 

CHAPTER  XXX. 
Resignation  of  Dr.    Gray. — Election   of    his    Successor. — Corre- 
spondence with  Davidson  College  .r'.uthoritlss, 348 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 
Routine  of  College  Work. — Boarding  System. — Dormitory  Plan 

Discussed, 356 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 
Meeting  of  the  Synod  in  1860,  and  Final  Decision  of  the  Ques- 
tion.— The  Election  of  Lincoln.— Close  of  the  Foiirth  Session 
of  the  College. —The  End, .-  360 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 
Further  Notes  of  War  Experience  in  La  Grange,  and  My  Escape 

from,  the  Lines, 366 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 
Effect  of  the  War  Upon   the  Presbyteries  of  the   South. — Dr. 
Spring's  Resolutions. — Atlanta  Convection. — Organization  of 
the  General  Assembly,  December  4   1861, 372 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 
Return  to  La  Grange. — Continuation  of  War  Record. — Personal 

Incidents, --  381 

CHAPTER  XXXVL 

Resumption  of  the  Narrative  of   the  Escape. — Mode  of  Life  in 

Mississippi.  —  Occupation  and  Service  until  the  Spring  of  1863,  389 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 
Appointed   Commissioner  of  Army  Missions  in  the  Mississippi 
Army. — Two  Sad  Events  of  the  Year. — Arrival  of  my  Chil- 
dren from  La  Grange, 395 

CHAPTER  XXXVITI. 
More  Perils  and  Escapes. — Residence  at  Meridian  and  at  Mont- 
gomery.— Wanderings.— Change    of    Work. — In    Danger  of 
Capture, ..  — 403 


Contents.  15 

CnAPTER  XXXIX. 
Finale  of  the  Shermau-Smith  Kixid  —  Return  to  Mississippi  "witli 
my  Children.  — Marriage  of  My  Youngest  Daughter. — Fourth 
Meeting  of  the  General  Assembly. — Change  of   Location  in 
Army  "Work, l 415 

CHAPTER  XL, 
Sojourn  iu  Atlanta  and  in  Camp.  —  General  Johnson  Relieved. — 
Evacuation  of  Atlanta. — Sta}''  in  Eufaula. — Death  of  my  Son 
afc  Jonesboro. — Army  Movement  Toward  Nashville, 422 

CHAPTER  XLL 

Appointment  to  a  Xew  Service,  and  Last  Bays  of  the  Confed- 
eracy. —  Gloom  and  Despondency.  — Destitvition  of  the  South,  428 

CHAPTER  XLII. 
Incidents  of  Personal  History. — Release  from  all  Othcial  Duties 

Growing  Out  of  the  War. — Visits  to  Old  Homes, 433 

CHAPTER  XLIIL 
Private  History. — Attendance  at  the  Meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Memi^his. — Meeting  at  Holly  Springs. — Return  to  Oxford  and 
Settlement  there, 441 

CHAPTER  XLIV. 

Governor  Sharkey's  Term  of  Service.  — Oxford  my  Home.  — Elec- 
tion to  the  Chancellorship  of  the  University. — MaiTiage. — 
Care  of  Oxford  Church. — Address  before  the  Legislature, 445 

CHAPTER  XLV. 

Advance  of  University  Work.  — Additions  to  the  Faculty.  — Annoy- 
ances Threatening  Disturbance. — Close  of  First  Session. — 
Sketches  of  Some  Professors. — Changes  of  State  Government. 
— PoKtical  Trouble  in  Prospect, . 456 

CHAPTER  XLVI. 
Under  a  New  Regime. — Signs  of  Diminished  Patronage. — Judge 
Hudson's  Letter  and  Answer  to  It. — Governor  Alcorn.  ^ — New 
Board  Appointed.  — A  Sketch, — Small  Attendance, 464 

CHAPTER  XLVIL 
Beturn  of  Confidence  in  the  University  on  the  Part  of  the  People 
of  the  State.  — Governor  Alcorn.  — Respect  Shown  the  Board. 
^Two    Unpleasant    Incidents. — The    Dormitory    System. — 
Change  of  the  System  of  the  University, —  472 


16  Contents. 

CHAPTER  XLVITI. 
Burden  of  Eesf)onsibility. — Church  and  State  Institutions, — Atti- 
tude of  the  University  Toward  Christianity. — Free  Tuition. — 
Work  Done  by  its  Graduates. — Historical  Address. — Degree 
of  LL.  D.  Conferred  by  University  of  Georgia, 481 

CHAPTER  XLIX. 
General  Assembly  of  1868. — Elected  Moderator. — Proceedings. — 
Educational  Convention. — Director  of  Church  University. — 
Results  of  Two    Meetings — General  Assembly  of   1874. — 
Elected  Secretary  of  Education. — Resignation, 488 

CHAPTER  L. 
Maturing  my  Views  as  to  Accepting  the  Office  of  Secretary  of 
Education, — Advised  Against  it, — Formal  Acceptance. — A 
Difference. — The  Question  Settled  by  the  Assemblj'. — Epi- 
demic of  Yellow-Fever  of  1878. — Joined  Presbytery  of  Mem- 
phis.    497 

CHAPTER  LL 
Resume  of  Matters. — Correspondence  with  Dr.   Palmer  in   1878- 
'79. — Conflict  of   Feeling. — Attendance  on   Meetings   of  the 
Directory. — Re-organization  of  Stewart  College  and  Election 
of  the  Faculty, 507 

CHAPTER  LIL 

Attendance  on  Assetubly  May  15,  1879. — Return  to  IMemphis  and 
Preparation  to  Remove. — Resignation  of  the  Secretaryship 
and  Election  of  Successor. — Farewell  Sermon. — Arrival  at 
Clarksville  and  Address  to  the  Six  Synods, 515 

CHAPTER  LIIL 
The  Epidemic  Again. — Number  of  Students. — The  Public  School. 
—The  Free  Feature   of   the   University. — Character   of   the 
Faculty. — The  Student  Body  Before  and  After  the  New  Or- 
ganization. — Discipline  and  Christian  Influence, 524 

CHAPTER  LIV. 
Proceedings  and  Action  of  the  Board. — Resignation  of  Professor 
Dinwiddie. — Election  of  Professor  Massie. — Resignation  of 
Professor  Hemphill.  — Election  of  Professor  Nicolassen.  — Es- 
tablishment of  a  Chair  and  its  Endowment — Election  of  Dr. 
"Welch.— Refusal  of  Presbytery  to  Dissolve  Pastoral  Relation. 
— Dr.  Price  Elected  and  Accepting, 531 


Contents.  17 

CHAPTER  LV. 
Divinity  School  Established.— Election  of  Professor  and  the  Chair 

Endowed.— Dr.   Caldwell's  Eesignatiou, 537 

CHAPTER  LVI. 
Divinity  School  and  First  Class.— Sketch  of  Vice-President  Welch,  542 

CHAPTER  LYII. 
Filling  Vacancies.— Withdrawal  of  Synod  of  Texas.— Sketches.— 
Faihng  Health  and  Resignation  of  Chancellor.— Election  of 
Successor  and  Inauguration  Exercises, 547 

CHAPTER  LVIII. 
General  Review.— What  is  a  Christian  Institution.— Closing  Re- 
flections on  the  Subject  of  Education, 553 

APPENDIX. 

I.  Correspondence  on  Dan\'ille  Seminary, 565 

XL  Correspondence  on  Resignation  of  Chancellorship  of  Univer- 
sity of  Mississippi, 569 

III.  Correspondence  on  Resignation  of  Chancellorship  of  South- 

western Presbyterian  University, 572 

IV.  Closing  Exercises  of  Ninth  Commencement, 681 


MEMORIALS 


OF 


The  Waddel  Family. 


MEMORIALS 


OF 


THE  WADDEL  FAMILY, 


REY.  MOSES  WADDEL,  D.  D., 

FORMERLY  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  GEORGIA. 


CHAPTEE   I. 

Sketch  of  Parents. —Emigkation  to  America.— Bibth  of  Moses 
Waddel.— Schools  and  Teachebs.— Of  His  Childhood  to  His 
Fourteenth  Year. 

THE  father  of  the  subject  of  these  memoirs  was  Wilham 
Wadclel,  and  the  maiden  name  of  his  mother  was  Sarah 
Morrow.     They  were  natives  of  the  north  of  Ireland,  and, 
at  the  time  of  their  emigration  to  North  America,  resided  in 
the  county   of  Down,  near  Belfast.     Their  removal  took 
place  in  the  year  176G,  when  they  left  their  native  land  in 
order  to  seek  a  new  home  in  the  Western  World,  accom- 
panied by  live  daughters,  the  eldest  being  too  young  to  ren- 
der much  assistance  to  her  parents.     The  immediate  cause 
of  this  removal  seems  to  have  been  the  loss  of  a  daughter 
and  only  son,  both  of  whom  had  fallen  \dctims  to  small-pox. 
Like  the  very  large  majority  of  the  people  of  their  oppressed 
native  country,  they  were  by  no  means  wealthy.     After  pay- 
ing all  debts,  procuring  needed  supphes  for  the  voyage,  and 
defraymg  the  necessary  expenses  of  passage,  Mr.  Waddel 
found  that  he  had  left  fifty  guineas  and  a  few  shiUings— 
truly  an  inconsiderable  capital  wherewith  to  meet  the  heavy 
responsibilities  of  a  new  settlement  in  a  strange  land,  with  a 

25 


26  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

family  so  lielpless  aud  dependent  as  liis.  His  original 
design  seems  to  have  been  to  settle  himself  in  Georgia ;  but 
tlie  unusual  roughness  of  the  voyage  and  the  severity  of  the 
weather  induced  a  change  in  the  direction  of  the  vessel,^ 
•u'hich  resulted  in  its  landing  at  Charleston,  S.  C.  This 
occurred  on  January  25,  1767.  Here  he  received  many  in- 
vitations and  offers  of  employment  to  induce  him  to  settle  in 
different  parts  of  South  Carolina ;  but  meeting  with  a  man 
from  the  upper  part  of  North  Carolina,  who  was  thenin 
Charleston  with  his  wagon,  and  who  represented  the  ad- 
vantages of  that  part  of  the  country  so  favorabl}',  and  who 
j)roposed  so  generously  to  assist  in  removing  his  family  with 
his  wagon,  which  had  discharged  its  freight  of  agricultural 
produce  in  the  city,  and  was  on  the  eve  of  returning,  he  de- 
cided to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  newly-settled  parts  of  that 
State. 

Having  arrived  in  Rowan  county,  he  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  on  easy  terms  (as  land  was  then  very  cheap),  and 
effected  a  settlement  on  the  margin  of  the  South  Yadkin 
river.  Here,  then,  he  found  himself  almost  literally  begin- 
ning the  world  again.  The  cost  of  stocking  his  farm  with 
the  necessary  cattle,  hogs,  and  horses;  the  indispensable 
implements  and  utensils  for  farming  purposes,  and  the  pur- 
chase of  provisions  for  the  first  year's  support,  all  combined, 
deeply  drained  the  small  resources  of  the  new  settler.  But 
frugahty,  industry,  and  perseverance,  with  imshaken  trust  in 
Providence,  enabled  him  to  go  on  safely  and  close  the  year 
in  comfort. 

Here  it  was  that  Moses  Waddel  was  born,  on  the  29th  of 
July,  1770.  He  received  his  name  from  the  extreme  impro- 
bability of  his  survi^dng  his  birth  many  hours. 

At  the  age  of  six  years  he  was  entered  as  a  pupil  in  a 
neighborhood  school  taught  by  a  gentleman,  a  Mr.  McKown, 
an  excellent  teacher.  Although  the  school-house  was  dis- 
tant three  miles  from  his  father's  house,  and  from  the  feeble- 


Progress  at  School.  27 

ness  of  his  health,  it  was  supposed  that  he  would  not  con- 
tinue to  attend  during  the  entire  period  of  the  session,  yet 
he  did  attend  rather  more  than  half  the  time.  During  this, 
time  he  learned  to  read  with  accuracy  and  to  write  a  toler- 
ably fair  hand.  His  progress,  all  things  considered,  was 
regarded  as  exceeding  that  of  any  child  in  the  school. 

Dm-ing  the  year  1778  theKev.  James  HaU,  who  had  been 
ordained^  and  installed  in  the  congregations  of  Concord, 
Fourth  Creek,  and  Bethany,  conceived  the  design  of  estab- 
lishing a  grammar  school  within  the  bounds  of  these  con- 
gregations, for  the  benefit  and  improvement  of  the  young 
people  in  his  charge.     Dr.  Hall  was  not  the  teacher  of  this> 
school,  which  was  six  or  seven  miles  distant  from  his  resi- 
dence; he  was  only  its  principal  patron  and  general  super- 
intendent.     It  was  projected  and  commenced  during  the 
revolutionary  war.     Situated  in  a  high  and  healthful  part  of 
North  Carolina,  remote  from  the  sea  coast,  the  people  were 
not  wealthy  nor  luxurious.      The  population  was  rather 
sparse.     Commerce  at  that  time  was  ahnost  entirely  annihi- 
lated in  every  part  of  the  United  States.     Independence  had 
been  declared,  and  a  most  rigorous  war  was  then  in  actual 
progress  for  its  establishment,  but  the  active  military  oper- 
ations during  that  year  were  confined  chiefly  to  the  north- 
ern States,  and  the  seat  of  war  was  in  that  region.     Under 
such  unfavorable  circumstances  this  grammar  school  was 
l^rojected  by  Dr.  HaU.     Owing  to  the  scarcity  of  money  and 
the  difficulty  of  disposing  of  any  property  or  produce  that 
would  command  it,  the  prospect  of  securing  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  pupils  to  form  a  school  was  by  no  means  encourag- 
ing.    Some  gentlemen  in  the  neighborhood  of  Mr.  Waddel, 
who  were  zealous  for  the  promotion  of  the  school,  having 
heard  of  the  rapid  progress  made  by  his  youngest  son  in 
learning  to  read  and  write  the  Enghsh  language,  proposed 
to  him  to  enter  Moses  as  a  scholar  to  learn  Latin.     The 
proposition  at  first  was  regarded  by  the  father  as  absui-d,  on 


28  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

account  of  the  difficulty  of  procuring  money  to  buy  books 
and  meet  the  expenses  of  tuition,  etc. ;  but,  urged  by  the 
ad^-ice  and  importunit}^  of  Robert  King,  Esq.,  a  near  neigh- 
bor of  great  prudence  and  piety,  as  well  as  by  James  King 
and  several  other  judicious  neighbors,  he  at  length,  confid- 
ing in  the  providence  of  that  God  who  had  always  x^i'O'^cled 
for  him  in  his  difficulties,  consented  to  enter  Moses  on  the 
list  of  pupils. 

Accordingly,  a  sufficient  number  of  pupils  having  been 
engaged,  the  school  was  opened  on  the  north  side  of  the 
South  Yadkin  river  on  the  27th  or  28th  of  October,  1778, 
under  the  instruction  of  Mr.  James  McEwen.  The  name 
of  the  seminary,  which  had  j)i'obably  been  selected  by  Dr. 
Hall,  was  "  Clio's  Nursery." 

On  the  day  above  mentioned  the  subject  of  these  memoirs 
entered  on  the  study  of  the  Latin  grammar,  in  the  teaching 
of  which  he  spent  so  mam-  of  the  succeeding  years  of  his 
life.  At  that  time  he  was  only  eight  yesLYS  and  three  months 
old.  Mr.  McEwen  conducted  "  Clio's  Nursery  "  successfully 
for  the  first  year  of  its  existence,  and  proved  himself  to  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  his  patrons  and  pupils  to  be  an  accu- 
rate, diligent,  and  excellent  instructor.  At  the  close  of  the 
year,  having  been  a  student  of  divinity  and  a  candidate  for 
the  gosj)el  ministry,  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  and,  after 
having  furnished  promise  of  much  usefulness  as  a  minister, 
lie  died  within  little  more  than  a  year  thereafter. 

The  classmates  of  Moses  "Waddel  in  this  school  were  five 
in  number,  viz. :  Edward  Harris,  who  held  the  office  of 
judge  of  the  superior  court  of  North  Carolina  during  life ; 
David  Purviance  and  Richard  King,  who  became  useful  and 
honored  ministers  of  the  gospel ;  James  Nisbet  and  Joseph 
Guy,  who  were  successful  physicians,  and  yet  served  their 
country  as  representatives  in  the  State  Legislature. 

"  Clio's  Nursery  "  was  placed,  in  the  year  1779,  under  the 
instruction  of  Mr.  Francis  Cummins,  a  student  of  divinity 


His  Teachers.  29 

and  a  candidate  for  tlie  ministry  ^vitli  Rev.  Dr.  HaU.  The 
seminary  continued  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Cummins  and 
was  prosperous  until  the  news  reached  the  neighborhood 
that  Charleston  had  surrendered  to  the  British  army,  on 
May  12th,  1780,  and  that  the  enemy  had  penetrated  the 
country  within  fifty  miles  of  the  settlement.  By  reason  of 
the  disturbance  resulting  from  their  incursions,  the  opera- 
tions of  the  seminary  were  suspended  until  April,  1782, 
when  they  were  resumed  imder  the  superintendence  of  Mr. 
John  Newton,  who  was  an  excellent  and  successful  instruc- 
tor, afterwards  also  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  With  Mr. 
Newton  Moses  Waddel  continued  his  studies  with  profit, 
and  learned  to  enjoy  his  association  with  so  kind  and  faith- 
ful an  mstructor.  The  next  teacher  under  whose  instruc- 
tion he  was  placed  was  Mr.  Samuel  Young,  subsequently  a 
minister  of  the  gospel  in  "Winnsborough,  South  Carolina. 
With  this  teacher  his  connection  with  "  Clio's  Nursery  "  as 
pupil  was  brought  to  a  close ;  so  that,  in  the  summer  of 
1784,  he  had  completed  the  study  of  the  Latm  and  Greek 
languages,  arithmetic,  Euchd's  Elements,  geography,  moral 
philosophy,  and  criticism.  This  course  of  study  he  had 
accompHshed  under  the  above-named  teachers  during  about 
five  or  six  years'  attendance,  and  before  he  had  completed 
his  fourteenth  year. 


CHAPTEE  II. 

Invitation  to  Teach. — Declined. — Father's  Keasons. — Views  of  the 
Son  then  and  in  After  Life. — First  Engagements  as  a 
Teacher, — Filial  Disobedience. — Resl'lts.  — His  Reflections. 

ABOUT  this  period  of  his  Hf  e  an  apphcation  was  made  by 
a  gentleman  of  Camden,  S.  C,  Dr.  Eobert  Alexander, 
addressed  to  Dr.  Hall,  requesting  him  to  procure  an  usher 
for  the  academy  which  had  been  estabhshed  at  that  place 
shortly  after  the  close  of  the  revolutionary  war.     Dr.  Alex- 
ander was  an  active  trustee  of  the  academy,  and  having 
heard  a  favorable  report  of  "  Clio's  Nursery,"  he  expressed 
a  special  preference  for  some  one  of  the  best  linguists  who 
had  been  educated  at  that  school.     Dr.  Hall  immediately 
applied  to  the  father  of  Moses  AVaddel,  expressing  a  desire 
that  he  would  accept  the  position  for  his  son,  and  permit  him 
to  go  and  teach  in  Camden.     The  proposal  was  very  gratify- 
ing to  the  youth  himself,  and  he  was  very  anxious  to  go; 
but  the  father,  although  grateful  to  his  pastor  for  the  kind- 
ness of  this  proj)osition,  and  fully  appreciating  the  compli- 
ment implied  in  it,  could   not  consent  to  his  going.     His 
only  ground  of  objection  was  the  extreme  youth  and  inex- 
perience of  his  son.     He  could  not  consider  it  his  duty  as  a 
parent  to  expose  his  morals  at  that  indiscreet  age  to  the 
temptations  of  a  town  life  and  among  entire  strangers.     In 
later   years,    and   after   maturer   judgment,    formed    upon 
greater  experience  and  more  widely-extended  observation, 
the  son  has  often  been  heard  to  remark  that  his  father  in 
that  decision  had  evinced  a  degree  of  parental  discretion 
and  sound  sense  for  which  he  felt  bound  to  be  thankful  to 
him,  under  God,  to  the  end  of  his  life. 

30 


Appointment  to  Teach.  31 

lu  the  month  of  July,  1784,  Moses  completed  his  four- 
teenth year.  It  was  only  a  short  time  after  this  that  some 
gentlemen  in  a  neighborhood  at  a  distance  of  some  fifteen 
miles  from  the  residence  of  his  father  desired  to  establish  a 
school  in  that  locality,  at  which  the  Latin  lancfua;^-e  could  be 
taught.  Having  learned  that  he  was  considered  capable  of 
teaching  it,  the}'  requested  his  father  to  allow  him  to  take 
charge  of  such  a  school,  consisting  of  English  scholars 
mainty,  with  a  few  pursuing  the  study  of  Latin.  To  this  he 
consented,  and  the  arrangement  was  accordingly  made. 

It  will  not  be  without  interest  to  the  reader  to  note  the 
fact  here,  that  the  stipulated  remuneration  for  services  ren- 
dered by  him  consisted  of  his  board  and  the  sum  of  seventh/ 
dollars  per  annum,  inasmuch  as  it  was  the  compensation  of 
a,  teacher  who,  in  his  subsequent  career,  received  for  many 
years  an  annual  income  of  thousands.  In  this,  his  first  field 
of  educational  work,  he  had  seven  pupils  studying  Latin,  and 
twenty  or  more  in  the  ordinary  English  branches.  The 
location  of  this  school  was  near  a  considerable  stream,  called 
"Hunting  Creek,"  in  the  northeastern  part  of  what  is  now 
called  Iredell  county,  N.  C.  In  his  year's  work  he  gave 
great  satisfaction,  and  was  regarded  as  wonderfully  success- 
ful. Unfortunately  he  lost  his  health,  and  was  compelled  to 
abandon  the  care  and  superintendence  of  the  school  and 
return  to  his  father's  house  to  recuperate. 

On  his  recovery  he  resumed  his  occupation,  not,  however, 
in  the  same  neighborhood,  but  first  nearer  home  and  then 
in  an  adjacent  settlement,  and  thus  he  was  chiefly  employed 
in  teaching  until  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1786,  when  he 
went  on  a  prospective  tour  to  Green  county,  Ga.,  then  a 
newly-settled  frontier  county.  Here  he  soon  engaged  in  his 
teaching  work  again,  but,  in  consequence  of  Indian  troubles 
on  this  frontier,  he  relinquished  his  school  in  the  summer 
and  returned  to  North  Carolina  to  \4sit  his  friends.  Here 
he  remained  about  two  months,  but  became  very  anxious  to 


32  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

return  to  Georgia.  As  his  parents  had  decided  to  remove 
in  the  autumn  of  that  year  to  Georgia,  then  considered  the 
land  of  agricultural  promise,  they  were  veiy  desu'ous  that 
he  should  remain  with  them  until  they  should  be  ready  to 
remove  and  accompany  them  on  their  journey.  With  this 
request,  so  entirely  reasonable,  he  was  altogether  unwilhng 
to  comply,  and  very  undutifully  departed  for  Georgia  a 
month  in  advance  of  his  father  and  family.  This  was  the 
first  material  point  in  which  he  had  ever  ventured  to  disobey 
them  or  to  counteract  their  wishes.  The  consequences  re- 
sulting to  him  w^ere  such  as  might  have  been  expected  from 
an  act  of  filial  disobedience. 

On  his  arrival  in  Georgia  he  found  that  the  people  among 
whom  he  had  resided  and  taught  had  been  forced  to 
abandon  their  habitations,  and  to  take  refuge  in  forts,  from 
the  cruelties  of  the  Indians,  who  had  crossed  the  Oconee 
river,  burned  Greensborough,  and  mui'dered  several  persons 
farther  within  the  interior  of  the  country.  After  remaining 
unemployed  about  a  month  he  visited  Augusta  to  seek  em- 
ployment, and,  after  being  tantahzed  four  weeks  with  the 
ho]De  of  being  employed  as  an  assistant  in  the  Eichmond 
Academy,  he  left  the  the  place  and  returned  to  Green 
county.  Here  he  found  his  parents  and  the  family  safely 
arrived  and  all  fears  of  further  incursions  of  the  savages  en- 
tirely subsided.  His  experience  from  the  time  of  his  leav- 
ing his  parents  in  a  disobedient  manner  until  his  meeting 
with  them  in  their  new  home  having  yielded  him  neither 
much  peace  of  mind  nor  any  personal  success,  he  accepted 
it  as  the  frown  of  Providence  and  as  a  gentle  chastisement, 
warning  him  against  acting  contrary  to  the  advice  of  his 
parents  in  future.  His  resolution  was  then  formed  to  that 
effect  and  from  it  he  never  again  deviated  during  their  lives. 


CHAPTEE  III. 

Kesumes  Teaching.  ^^ — Attendance  on  Dancing  Parties. — Waveking? 
E/ESOLrTioNS.  — Final  Decision.  — Religiol' s  Impressions.  — Pub- 
lic Profession  of  Religion. 

IN  1788,  in  the  same  part  of  the  countiy,  he  commenced 
another  school.  The  state  of  morals  there  among"  the 
young  men  was  by  no  means  such  as  to  exert  a  favorable  in- 
fluence upon  him.  He  had  been  thrown  into  association 
with  them  and  had  been  exposed  to  their  society  during  the 
previous  years  from  the  time  of  his  first  departure  from  his 
father's  house,  and  he  found  himself  now  surrounded  by  this 
state  of  society.  In  addition  to  this  fact,  it  is  stated  that  in 
that  neighborhood  there  had  been  no  preaching  regularly 
enjoyed  for  a  length  of  time.  The  young  people  were  fond 
of  dancing  parties,  which  w^ere  kept  up  weekly,  and  to  these 
entertainments  he  was  always  sure  of  an  invitation,  because 
he  w^as  pursuing  the  occupation  of  a  man  w^hile  he  was  very 
young,  and  was  supposed,  from  his  mode  of  occupation,  to 
possess  the  attributes  of  one  far  in  advance  of  his  age.  He 
thus  acquired  a  fondness  for  that  amusement,  which  he  in- 
dulged until  he,  from  his  own  reflections,  began  to  doubt  the 
innocence  of  dancing  as  an  a.musement,  and  often,  after  hav- 
ing attended  one  of  these  meetings,  his  thoughts  w^ere  so 
unpleasant  as  to  lead  him  to  resolve  that  this  should  be  the 
last  one  of  the  kind  he  should  ever  attend.  He  would  dis- 
close his  views  to  these  young  people,  and  state  to  them  that 
they  need  never  to  incite  him  again  to  such  meetings.  But 
he  found,  in  his  own  experience,  that  um*enewed  human 
nature  was  w^eak  indeed,  as,  on  a  repetition  of  the  tempta- 
tion, he  had  no  power  of  resistance.  Such  was  the  vacil- 
3  33 


34    -  Moses  ATaddel,  D.  D. 

latiug  state  of  his  mind  until,  b}'  a  change  of  his  place  of 
board  to  the  pious  home  of  a  gentleman  in  the  same  neigh- 
borhood, and  by  his  entering  upon  a  nightly  review  of  his 
classical  studies,  "svhich  he  was  enabled  rigidly  to  continue, 
he  overcame  the  fondness  for  this  amusement,  and  found,  to 
his  great  satisfaction,  that  he  had  courage  to  decline  all 
fm'ther  invitations  extended  to  him. 

The  arrival  and  frequent  preaching  of  several  distin- 
guished ministers  of  the  gospel  in  that  region  of  country 
dui'ing  the  year  resulted  in  the  excitement  of  a  considerable 
interest  in  religion.  By  frequent  interviews  with  Eev.  Mr. 
Thacher,  one  of  these  ministers,  sent  as  a  missionary  to  that 
part  of  Georgia  from  Orange  Presbytery,  North  Carolina, 
and  by  attendance  on  his  preaching  and  that  of  others  of 
different  denominations,  the  mind  of  the  young  teacher  was 
more  and  more  impressed  with  the  sense  of  the  necessity 
and  importance  of  his  soul's  interests.  From  this  time  he 
devoted  most  of  his  leisure  hours,  mornings  and  evenings, 
to  reading  the  Scriptures,  and  books  of  religious  character 
treating  of  experimental  religion.  His  attention  to  secret 
prayer  at  stated  times  became  regular,  and  his  serious  im- 
pressions deepened  and  his  religious  exercises  increased. 
Thus  he  continued  in  his  habits  of  thought  and  action  until 
a  certain  Fast  day  in  1789,  which  was  observed  by  him, 
-when  the  jDlan  of  salvation,  he  behoved,  was  suddenly  re- 
vealed to  his  mind  more  clearly  than  ever  before.  He 
believed  that  God  was  as  willing  to  save  him  as  he  himself 
was  to  be  saved  through  Jesus  Christ.  He  also  felt  a  will- 
ingness to  bow  to  the  sceptre  of  divine  grace,  and,  with 
humble  gratitude  and  resignation,  to  embrace,  receive,  and 
rest  u^Don  the  Saviour  for  the  whole  of  his  salvation.  At  the 
church  of  Bethany,  about  the  middle  of  April,  1789,  an  ap- 
j)ointment  for  administration  of  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
supper  was  filled  by  the  preacher  in  charge,  and  feehng 
bound,  both  by  duty  and  inclination,  to  attach  himself  by  an 


Kis  FiEST  Communion.  35 

open  profession,  he  presented  himself  before  the  session, 
and,  after  the  usual  examination  and  other  steps  prepara- 
tory to  his  reception  had  been  conducted  satisfactorily,  he 
\vas  admitted  a  member  of  the  church.  On  the  morning  of 
the  communion  he  realized  unusual  comfort  in  the  prospect 
of  the  duty  he  -v^  as  about  to  discharge  and  the  privilege  he 
-was  hoping  to  enjoy.  The  communion  sermon  was  preached, 
and  the  ordinance  was  explained.  The  sacred  table  was 
spread  and  surrounded  by  communicants,  and  among  them 
Moses  Waddel  took  his  seat  for  the  first  time. 

A  state  of  mind  ensued  which  he  could  never  aiterwards 
fully  describe.  Before  he  approached  the  communion  table 
he  had  expected  to  experience  the  evidences  of  his  Saviour's 
love  and  the  enrapturing  tokens  of  God's  favor  in  degree  far 
superior  to  any  feehng  ever  before  experienced  by  him, 
when  lo !  during  the  time  of  his  sitting  thero  he  could  see 
nothing  but  bread  and  wine,  and  felt  nothing  but  an  awful 
and  comfortless  sense  of  his  own  unworthiness  to  occupy  a 
seat  at  that  holv  feast  of  love. 


CHAPTER  lY. 

Spiritcal  Conflicts. — Tendekxessof  Conscience. — Methods  of  Re- 
lief Adopted. — Final  Victory. 

FROM  this  time  and  for  months  afterwards  Moses  Wad- 
del  was  the  victim  of  great  mental  distress  and  spirit- 
ual gloom,  which,  with  occasional  relief,  at  last  increased  to 
such  a  degree  as  to  reduce  him  almost  to  despair.  In  this 
state  of  mind  he  attended  another  communion  meeting  at 
Bethany  church,  in  Green  county.  There  he  met  with  an 
elderly  gentleman  from  a  church  in  AYilkes  county,  who  had 
ridden,  on  purpose  to  attend  this  meeting,  some  twenty  or 
twenty-five  miles.  This  gentleman  was  Mr.  Eobert  Cres- 
well,  and,  although  not  a  preacher,  he  was  a  man  of  extraor- 
dinary script lU'al  knowledge  and  experience.  AYith  this 
gentleman  he  engaged,  as  was  natural  in  his  state  of  mind, 
in  a  conversation  with  perfect  freedom  upon  the  subject  of 
experimental  religion.  The  result  was  that  Moses  Waddel 
decided  to  spend  the  evening  and  night  with  him ;  and  as 
the  greater  part  of  the  time  was  occupied  in  talking  on  prac- 
tical religion,  he  found  his  views  greatly  enlarged  and  en- 
lightened by  this  interview,  and  from  Mr.  Creswell's  kind 
and  pious  counsel  he  hoped  that  he  had.  derived  great  en- 
couragement and  satisfaction. 

Subsequently  he  enjoyed  the  same  privilege  of  personal 
association  with  Mr.  Creswell  and  others,  and  found  addi- 
tional comfort  from  their  conversation.  After  this,  continu- 
ing his  occupation  in  school  in  the  neighborhood  of  Bethany 
church,  of  which  he  was  a  member,  he  so  full}^  shared  the 
confidence  of  all  who  knew  him  that  he  was  occasionally 
asked  to  lead  in  family  worship  and  in  j)ubHc  prayer.     This 

36 


His  Tenderness  op  Conscience.  37 

led  to  a  resolution  adopted  bv  the  minister  and  the  church 
-  session,  that  the  congregation  should  assemble  on  vacant 
Sabbaths,  and  that  he  should  be  invited  to  ]ead  in  sin^ino- 
l^rayer,  and  reading-  a  sermon  by  some  approved  orthodox 
divine,  to  which  he  gave  his  assent,  and  the  practice  con- 
tinued for  some  length  of  time.  It  was,  however,  on  the 
evening  of  a  certain  day  which  had  been  employed  in  this 
manner  that  he  engaged  in  a  train  of  self-examination, 
which  embodied  a  series  of  questions  and  reflections  of  the 
following  nature : 

"I  have  made  a  j^rofession  of  religion,  and  I  have  been 
turning  my  attention  to  this  subject  for  a  year  or  more  past. 
I  have  read  my  Bible  and  works  of  pious  authors  consider- 
ably. ]\Iy  external  conduct,  I  know,  is  greatly  altered.  I 
have  conducted  myself  in  a  much  more  serious  and  orderly 
manner  than  formerly.  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  my 
acquaintances  do  generally  reo-ard  me  as  a  Christian.  But 
do  /  knoio  that  I  am  one?  Is  it  true  that  I  have  been  horn 
again,  and  that  I  am  «  child  of  God?  How  do  I  know  but 
that  these  very  people  who  have  seen  me  to-day  in  the 
church,  and  heard  me  pray  and  sing  and  read,  may  yet  see 
me  in  hell,  and  upbraid  me  with  hyprocrisy  for  this  day's 
work?" 

These  thoughts  made  a  most  solemn  and  awful  impres- 
sion on  his  mind,  and  excited  a  determination  that  he 
would  '-not  give  sleep  to  his  eyes  nor  slumber  to  his  eye- 
lids" until  he  should  obtain  an  assurance  that  he  was  a 
child  of  God  and  a  real  Christian. 

Now  began  a  time  of  spiritual  gloom  and  distress  never 
before  experienced  by  him,  and  the  intensity  of  which  has 
rarely  had  its  parallel  in  the  experience  of  others.  He  lost 
his  sleep  and  appetite,  spent  his  nights  in  reading  God's 
word  and  poring  over  Doddridge's  Fuse  and  Progress, 
confining  his  attention  to  those  parts  of  the  book  treat- 
ing of  the   exercises  of   the    convicted   sinner   and    avoid- 


38  Moses  AYaddel,  D.  D. 

ing  the  parts  which  treat  of  the  character  aud  exercises 
of  the  true  Christian,  as  he  felt  no  assurance  that  he 
■was  a  child  of  God,  and  therefore  he  thought  that  those 
more  advanced  parts  of  the  book  were  not  for  him  to 
claim  as  applicable  to  his  case.  This  state  of  mind  in- 
creased in  its  depth  of  suffering  until  it  resulted  in  render- 
ing him  supremely  wretched.  His  conscience  lost  its  calm- 
ness of  judgment,  and,  feeling  that  he  was  so  ungrateful, 
guilty,  and  utterly  im worthy  in  the  sight  of  God,  he  became 
afraid  to  quench  his  thirst  as  being  too  great  a  blessing  for 
such  a  sinner,  and  even  carried  his  tenderness  of  conscience 
to  the  25oint  of  doubting  his  authority  to  administer  to  his 
pupils  who  transgressed  any  penalty  of  their  offences,  since 
he  would  raise  the  question  at  once,  "If  God,  your  great 
Master,  should  punish  you  for  your  faults,  what  would  be- 
come of  you?"  Indeed,  such  was  the  view  of  the  depravity 
of  his  whole  nature  at  that  period  that  he  regarded  himself 
a  mere  compound  of  unbelief,  pride,  and  hyprocrisy,  and  this, 
too,  while  most  of  his  time  was  occupied  in  reading  the 
Scriptures  and  books  of  practical  piety  and  in  secret 
prayer. 

Not  only  was  he  thus  exercised  in  self-condemnation,  but 
about  this  very  period  he  was  assailed  by  the  fiery  darts  of 
the  wicked  one.  He  was  tempted  to  doubt  the  existence  of 
God,  the  truth  of  the  Bible,  or  that  there  is  any  heaven, 
hell,  or  devil.  This  state  of  mental  exercise  continued  for 
months,  without  inducing  any  relaxation  of  the  duty  of  secret 
prayer. 

An  incident  is  related  of  his  experience  in  his  school  which 
merits  notice.  It  seems  that,  although  he  had  been  a  pro- 
fessincf  Christian  for  a  len^ih  of  time,  he  had  never  assumed 
courage  to  open  and  close  his  school  with  prayer,  although 
his  mind  had  for  some  time  been  impressed  with  the  con- 
viction that  he  ought  to  do  this  daily  to  secure  the  blessing 
of  God.     Oil  occasion  of  a  very   frightful   thunder-storm 


His  Spiritual  Conflict.  39 

which  came  on  during  school  hours,  not  only  were  the  pupils 
of  the  school  struck  with  the  most  dreadful  terror  by  the 
vivid  glare  of  the  hghtning  and  the  crashing  sound  of  the 
thunder,  but  it  is  beheved  that  none  of  them  were  so  horror- 
stricken  as  their  self-condemned  instructor.  During  the 
racing  of  the  storm  he  did  not  know,  but  felt  awful  appre- 
hensions  that  the  next  flash  of  lightning  would  be  the  mes- 
senger of  an  anoTv  God  to  send  him  to  hell.  Many  solemn 
ejaculations  of  prayer  went  up,  and  many  a  silent  resolution 
was  formed,  that  if  God  would  spare  his  life  he  would 
neglect  this  duty  no  longer.  But  the  storm  passed,  and  he 
was  spared,  yet  his  resolution  was  broken,  and,  through 
sinful  shame  and  fear  of  man,  the  school  was  dismissed 
without  prayer,  as  it  had  been  formerly.  A  repetition  of 
the  storm  occurred,  even  more  terrific  than  the  first,  on  the 
next  afternoon.  Fearful  were  the  lashes  of  his  \iolated  con- 
science at  the  time,  and  again  he  prayed,  and  promised  that 
if  God  would  withhold  the  visitation  of  His  just  and  right- 
eous wrath,  and  spare  him  agaiu,  he  would  no  more  neglect 
this  duty  of  prayer  at  opening  and  closing  his  school.  Once 
more  God  heard  him  and  spared  his  hfe,  whereupon,  at  the 
subsidence  of  the  storm,  he  was  enabled  to  address  his 
lately- affrighted  pupils  as  follows:  "We  have  been  pre- 
served this  afternoon  from  great  danger.  We  ought  to 
thank  God  for  His  goodness ;  therefore  let  us  pray."  Thus- 
this  school  w^as  dismissed  that  afternoon  wdth  prayer,  and 
ever  afterward,  not  only  this  school,  but  every  institution 
with  which  he  was  connected  during  his  Hfe,  was  opened 
and  closed  with  prayer. 

The  mental  distress,  however,  continued  to  give  him  such 
anxiety  as  to  render  him  unfit  for  the  discharge  of  his  daily 
duty.  So  he  determined  to  susi^end  the  exercises  of  the 
school  for  a  few  days,  in  order  that  he  might  visit  some  ex- 
perienced Christian  who  could  furnish  him  the  advice  he  so 
greatly  needed.     This  he  did  accordingly,  and  paid  a  visit 


40  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

to  liis  old  friends,  Mr.  Creswell  and  others;  and  having 
-conferred  freely  with  them,  he  felt  that  he  had  gained  light 
on  his  j^ath,  and  was  enabled  to  engage  in  his  duties  with 
■composui'e  and  comfort,  to  which  he  had  long  been  a 
stranger. 

Still  he  struggled  on,  in  alternate  light  and  shadow,  uutil^ 
at  a  communion  meeting  held  by  Bev.  Mr.  Thatcher  in 
Bethany  chui'ch,  he  was  at  last  led  into  "  the  light  and  lib- 
erty of  the  gospel,"  under  the  instrumentahty  of  this  able 
and  godly  minister,  who  in  a  sermon  on  Eomans  v.  6,  made 
the  plan  of  salvation  and  the  Saviour's  love  and  grace  clearer 
and  more  comforting  to  his  view  than  ever  he  had  before 
experienced.  He  was  enabled  to  hope  and  feel  "  at  peace 
with  God,  the  world,  and  himself,"  and  from  this  time  he 
l3egan  to  indulge  "  a  good  hope,  through  grace,"  that  he  had 
■'*  passed  from  death  unto  life."  and  was  assured  of  his  par- 
don, peace,  and  reconciliation  with  God  through  Jesus 
Ohrist. 


CHAPTEK  V. 

Hesolution  to  Enter  the  IMinistey  and  to  Complete  the  PEELTstr- 
NAEY  Education. — Enters  Hampden-Sidney  College. — Candi- 
date Under  Care  of  Presbytery  of  Hanover, — Licenfure  and 
Dismissal  to  the  Presbytery  of  South  Carolina. 

IjlROM  that  day  his  mind  was  greatly  exercised  in  regard 
Jj  to  the  solemn  subject  of  the  gospel  ministry.  Con- 
Tinced  that  he  had  received  a  divine  call  to  this  great  work, 
he  was  equally  impressed  with  the  conviction  of  his  own 
want  of  the  necessary  mental  training  and  the  acquisition 
of  additional  literary  education,  in  order  to  the  proper  dis- 
char<:i'e  of  the  hi^'h  and  holv  functions  of  that  exalted  call- 
ing.  There  was  another  consideration  suggested  to  liis 
mind  at  the  same  time,  and  that  was  that  he  must  use 
every  proper  method  to  acquire  the  means  whereby  he 
might  defray  the  expenses  of  a  collegiate  education.  It  is 
to  be  borne  in  mind  that  at  that  time  and  in  that  new  set- 
tlement there  had  never  been  established  such  benevolent 
institutions  among  the  churches  as  Boards  or  Committees  of 
Ministerial  Education,  or  Education  Societies  to  train  poor 
and  promising  candidates  for  the  ministry.  He  seems  not 
to  have  thought  of  such  a  thin^-  as  receiving  assistance  from 
any  outside  source:  so  he  resumed  teaching,  and  thus,  by 
his  own  efforts  and  God's  blessing,  he  succeeded  in  this  ob- 
ject, and  found  himself  in  possession  of  the  required  funds. 
At  that  early  period  he  knew  of  no  institution  of  learning 
in  the  Carolinas  or  Georgia  which  held  out  to  him  induce- 
ments of  the  proper  kind  to  attract  his  interest.  Accord- 
ingly he  paid  a  visit  to  a  venerable  and  valued  friend,  Eev. 
John  Springer,  at  Cambridge  (formerly  called  Ninety-six),  in 
Abbeville  District,  South  Carolina.  This  minister  had  insjDired 

41 


42  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

into  all  the  churches  where  he  had  become  known  the  full- 
est confidence  in  his  i)iety  as  a  Christian  and  his  character 
as  a  scholar  and  a  gentleman.  To  him,  therefore,  he  ap- 
plied for  advice  as  to  the  college  he  would  recommend  him 
to  attend  in  order  to  complete  his  literary  studies.  Mr. 
Springer  unhesitatingly  advised  him  to  prepare  himself  at 
once  for  the  College  of  Hampden-Sidney,  in  Prince  Edward 
county,  Va.  This  institution,  after  its  founding  and  organi- 
zation, had  enjoyed  the  privilege  and  advantage  of  the  pre- 
sidency, first,  of  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith,  after- 
wards president  for  many  years  of  the  College  of  New  Jer- 
sey. He  was  succeeded  by  his  brother,  Rev.  John  B.  Smith, 
who  presided  over  the  College  for  several  years  with  gTeat 
credit  to  himself  and  advantage  to  the  public,  and  was  after- 
wards president  of  Union  College,  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  and 
died  of  yellow  fever  in  Philadelj)hia  in  1799. 

After  having  prepared  himself  for  this  college,  Moses. 
"Waddel  left  his  home  in  Green  county,  Ga.,  for  a  long  ride 
on  horseback  to  the  distant  point  in  Virginia  at  which  some 
of  his  years  were  to  be  spent,  and  where  he  should  lay  the 
foundation  of  his  future  professional  and  social  life.  Hav- 
ing arrived  in  Prince  Edward  county,  in  September,  1790, 
his  first  care  was  to  apply  himself  to  the  study  of  certain 
branches  necessary  to  his  admission  into  the  senior  class  of 
Hampden-Sidney  College.  This  being  done,  he  entered  the 
senior  class  on  the  3d  of  January,  1791.  The  institution 
was  under  the  presidency  of  Rev.  Drury  Lacy  at  that  time, 
and  the  studies  of  Moses  AYaddel  were  pursued  under  him 
until  the  time  of  his  graduation,  on  the  20th  of  September, 
1791,  having  been  associated  dui'ing  this  time  with  the  fol- 
lowing as  classmates,  who  afterwards  became  very  promi- 
nent and  useful  men,  viz. :  Rev.  John  McKemie  "Wilson, 
D.  D.,  of  North  Carolina;  Dr.  James  Jones,  of  Dinwiddle, 
repeatedly  a  member  of  Congress,  and  Hon.  George  M. 
Bibb,  judge,  and  senator  from  Kentucky. 


He  is  Licensed  to  Preach.  45 

About  two  months  previous  to  his  in'^tluation  he  attended 
the  meeting  of  the  Presb^^tery  of  Hanover,  in  Upper  Con- 
cord church,  in  Campbell  county,  Va.,  and  presented  him- 
self to  the  Presbyteiy  as  a  candidate  for  the  gospel  min- 
istry ;  was  examined,  in  company  with  Mr.  AVilliam  Calhoun, 
and  Mr.  Samuel  Brown,  on  the  subjects  usual  on  such  occa- 
sions. The  examinations  of  these  three  were  all  sustained, 
and  the}'-  were  all  admitted  under  care  of  the  Presbytery  on 
August  1,  1791.  The  Presbytery  adjourned,  to  meet  again 
on  October  28tli  ensuing,  at  which  time  he  was  ordered  to 
present  as  his  first  parts  of  trial  an  essay  on  the  freedom  of 
the  human  will,  and  a  Presbyterial  exercise  on  Phil.  ii.  12, 13, 
if  he  could  possibly  prepare  these  exercises.  As  these  ap- 
pointments were  made  nearly  two  months  before  commence- 
ment, and  during  that  time  nearly  all  his  attention  would 
be  occupied  with  the  exercises  necessary  to  be  j^repared  for 
such  public  occasions,  he  found  that  by  close  apphcation 
during  the  vacation  w^hich  ensued  after  the  Commencement 
he  was  enabled  to  prepare  only  the  essay.  This  was  pre- 
sented at  the  meeting  of  Presbytery,  on  October  28th,  read, 
and  approved,  and  an  additional  part  of  his  trial  for  licen- 
sure was  assigned  him,  being  a  lecture  on  1  Pet.,  iv.  1-7,  to 
be  presented  at  the  spring  meeting  of  Presbyteiy  in  May 
next  after  this  meeting.  Accordingly,  his  trials  having  all 
been  sustained,  he  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Han- 
over on  May  11,  1792,  The  record  of  the  stated  clerk  on 
the  minutes  is  that  on  the  6th  of  October,  1792,  he  w^as 
"  dismissed  at  discretion  ;  "  the  explanation  of  this  phrase- 
ology being,  doubtless,  that  as  he  was  uncertain  as  to  his 
future  location,  the  Presbytery  could  not  do  otherwise. 
The  next  fact  related  of  the  subject  of  this  narrative  is  that, 
on  the  11th  of  April,  1793,  he  was  received  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  South  Carolina  as  a  licentiate,  bearing  letters  of  dis- 
mission from  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover. 


CHAPTER  ^T:. 

fiEMOVAIi. — FlEST   AND    SECOND   MaERIAGES. — FlKST  AND  SeCOND   LOCA- 
TIONS. — Pupils.  — Calhoun.  — Ckawfoed. 

AFTER  his  licensure  he  remained  in  Virginia  for  some 
months,  and  returned  to  South  CaroHna,  making  his 
temporary  home  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Thomas  Legare,  a 
devout  elder  of  the  chui'ch.  In  September,  1793,  being  still 
a  licentiate  under  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  South  Carolina, 
he  was  appointed  to  visit  and  preach  to  the  people  on  James 
Island,  John's  Island,  Wadmalaw,  and  Dorchester,  once  at 
•each  point.  The  remainder  of  his  time  he  spent  in  Georgia, 
as  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Presbytery  covered  that  part  o/  the 
State  also.  In  April,  1794,  at  a  meeting  of  Presbytery,  the 
•Carmel  church,  in  Georgia,  forwarded  a  call  for  one  half  of 
his  time,  which  he  accepted.  In  this  church,  at  a  special 
meeting  of  Presbytery  in  June  following,  he  was  solemnly 
ordained  to  the  full  work  of  the  gospel  ministry.  Rev.  Dr. 
■Cummins,  who  had  been  one  of  his  teachers  at  "Clio's 
Nursery,"  in  North  Carolina,  preached  on  that  occasion  the 
ordination  sermon. 

Not  long  after  this,  perhaps  in  1794,  he  became  satisfied, 
from  his  experience  and  observation  of  the  destitutions  of 
the  surrounding  country,  that  he  could  extend  his  useful- 
ness by  adding  to  his  ministerial  services  the  important  and 
useful  occupation  of  teaching.  He  selected,  as  the  location 
of  the  school,  a  country  place  about  two  miles  east  of  the 
village  of  Appling,  w^hich  Avas  the  count}^  site  of  Columbia 
county,  Ga.  At  this  ^^lace  he  continued  to  teach  for  several 
years,  and  then,  for  some  reason,  he  decided  that  it  would 
he  best  to  remove  to  the  village.     Among  the  pupils  of  this 


Preaches  at  the  Calhoun  Settlement.  45 

school  was  the  celebrated  William  H.  Crawford,  afterwards 
one  of  Georgia's  most  distiuguished  statesmen,  and  who 
filled  some  of  the  most  important  positions  in  the  service  of 
the  national  government.  Mr.  Crawford,  it  should  be 
stated,  was  an  assistant  to  Mr.  Waddel  in  this  school ;  and 
it  is  a  well-known  fact  that  in  this  school,  under  the  direct 
instruction  of  Mr.  Waddel,  he  received  the  whole  of  his 
scholastic  training,  never  having  attended  any  other  institu- 
tion of  learning  subsequently.  While  residing  at  this  place 
the  young  licentiate  missionary  filled  an  appointment  to 
preach  beyond  the  Savannah  river,  in  Abbeville  district, 
South  Carohna,  in  a  neighborhood  known  then,  and  even 
now,  as  the  "  Calhoan  Settlement,"  so  called  from  the  fact 
that  the  family  of  Calhouns,  descendants  of  Scotch-Irish 
parentage,  finding  themselves  compelled  to  remove  from 
their  second  settlement  in  Virginia  on  account  of  the  incur- 
sions of  the  Indians  consequent  upon  Braddock's  defeat, 
resolved  to  turn  their  course  southward;  and  in  1756  they 
selected  the  upper  part  of  South  Carolina,  near  the  Savan- 
nah river,  in  Abbeville  district,  and  there  they  established 
what  became  known  ever  afterwards  as  "  Calhoun  Settle- 
ment." This  settlement,  although  beset  with  many  dangers 
and  difficulties,  continued  to  grow  in  many  important 
respects,  and  at  the  time  of  Rev.  Mr.  Waddel's  visit  it  was  a 
strong  Presbyterian  region,  with  a  place  for  preaching 
known  as  Brewer's  school-house.  Patrick  Calhoun  (father 
of  John  C.  Calhoun)  was  the  head  of  the  settlement  and  an 
elder  of  the  church.  After  the  preaching  of  the  young 
minister  (then  in  the  twenty-fifth  year  of  his  age),  Mr.  Cal- 
houn invited  him  to  his  house,  and  he  accepted  the  invita- 
tion and  spent  the  Jiight  ver}'  agreeably  with  the  family. 
He  here  met  for  the  first  time  the  lady  who  afterwards 
became  his  first  wife,  Miss  Catherine  Calhoun,  the  only 
daughter  of  Mr.  Patrick  Calhoun.  She  is  described  as  hav- 
ing been  a  veiy  attractive  lady,  and  it  seems  the  young 


46  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

minister  was  at  once  struck  with  admiration  of  her  many 
charming  qualities.  Not  long  after  this  visit,  in  the  folloAV- 
ing  year,  1795,  he  was  manied  to  her  while  still  residing  in 
Columbia  county,  Ga.  She  survived  the  marriage  but  httle 
more  than  a  year,  and  she  left  an  infant  daughter,  who  soon 
.followed  the  mother.  John  C.  Calhoun,  her  j'oung  brother, 
had  been  placed  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Waddel,  to  prosecute 
his  education.  He  remained  with  him  altogether  about  two 
years,  during  which  time  he  was  prepared  for  the  junior 
class  in  Yale  College,  and  in  due  course  of  time  he  graduated 
there  with  highest  distinction.  Upon  the  death  of  his  wife 
and  her  father  Mr.  Waddel  suspended  the  active  operations 
of  his  teaching  for  several  years.  But  as  he  surveyed  the 
destitutions  of  the  country  around  him,  demanding  laborers 
m  the  plenteous  harvest,  he  felt  that  he  was  under  a  press- 
ing call  from  the  Master  to  go  to  work  in  His  Tineyard. 
Under  the  pressure  of  such  influences  he  gave  himself  to 
the  active  work  of  the  ministry,  as  an.  evangelist  in  the  wide 
field  extending  all  around  him.  It  was  just  at  this  time 
that,  after  he  had  been  again  appointed  by  the  Presbytery 
of  South  Carolina  to  preach  at  John's  Island  and  Wad- 
malaw,  we  learn  from  the  History  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  South  Carolina,  by  Dr.  Howe,  that  "  on  Novem- 
ber 3,  1796,  the  Synod  of  the  Carolinas  separated  the  terri- 
tory southwest  of  the  Savannah  river,  and  detached  the  Eev. 
John  Newton,  Eev.  John  Springer,  Rev.  Robert  M.  Cun- 
ningham, Rev.  Moses  Waddel,  and  Rev.  William  Mont- 
gomery, from  the  Presbytery  of  South  Carolina.  These 
brethren,  meeting  at  Liberty  church  (now  Woodstock)  on 
the  16tli  of  March,  1797,  under  the  order  of  Synod,  held  the 
first  meeting  of  Hopewell  Presbytery.  Rev.  Mr.  Springer 
was  elected  moderator  and  Rev.  Mr.  Waddel  clerk." 

Mr.  Waddel  resided  in  Columbia  county,  Ga.,  during  the 
remaining  j^ears  of  that  century.  In  1801  he  removed  to 
the  village  of  Vienna,  Abbeville  District,  S.  C,  where  he 


Removed  to  Vienna.  47 

opened  a  school  again,  continuing  liis  labors  as  a  minister 
at  the  same  time.  In  addition  to  this  villai^e  there  were  in 
existence,  and  in  quite  a  flourishing  condition  of  commer- 
cial activity,  two  others  in  the  same  neighborhood,  all 
within  a  circle  of  about  one  mile  in  extent.  These  were  Pe- 
tersburg, on  the  point  of  land  made  by  the  confluence  of 
the  Savannah  and  Broad  rivers;  Lisbon,  oii  the  west  bank 
of  the  Broad,  while  Vienna  stood  upon  the  high  hill,  mak- 
ing up  from  the  Savannah  river  on  the  east  side.  These 
three  small  towns  are  easily  within  the  writer's  recollection 
brought  into  review  at  the  time  when  they  all  enjoyed  a 
very  considerable  degree  of  prosperity  in  a  business  point 
of  view,  and  the  population  was  to  some  extent  refined  and 
intelligent.  A  visit  to  the  spot  once  occupied  by  these 
towns  at  a  later  period  of  his  life  filled  him  with  melancholy 
emotions,  as  all  that  once  made  them  so  flourishing  and 
pleasant  is  obHterated  by  the  resistless  sweep  of  time  and 
change,  and  buried  b}^  desolation  and  ruin.  Yet  it  was  to 
Vienna,  one  of  these  noio  ^'"buried  cities,'^  that,  in  the  year 
ISOl,  Mr.  AVaddel  removed,  and  established  himself  as  a 
teacher  and  preacher.  The  prosperity  of  these  towns,  and 
their  life  and  active  rivalry  in  competition  for  the  patronage 
of  the  neighboring  country  around  them,  and  the  wealth 
and  refinement  of  the  population,  imparted  to  the  school  the 
fail'  prospect  of  satisfactory  success. 

It  is  perhaps  best,  just  at  this  point,  that  we  retrace  the 
history  somewhat,  in  order  to  bring  forward  the  narrative 
of  certain  events  of  much  interest  in  the  life  of  the  subject 
of  this  memoir  which  have  thus  far  been  passed  over  in  si- 
lence on  account  of  the  necessity  of  recording  important 
pubhc  events.  In  this  way  all  the  parts  of  this  record  may 
be  made  to  move  on  more  evenly  and  connectedly  in  the  future. 
The  reader  may  2)ossibly  remember  that  Mr.  "Waddel  had 
spent  several  years  in  Virginia,  beginning  with  the  year 
1790,  when  he  arrived  in  Prince  Edward  county,  at  Hamp- 
den Sidney  College,  and  ending  in  1793,  during  which  time 


48  Moses  "Waddel,  D.  D. 

he  graduated,   was  received  under  care  of  Presbj'teiy  of 
Hanover,  and  licensed.     It  was  during  these  years  that  he 
formed  the  acquaintance  of  a  young  lady — Miss  Eliza  "Wood- 
son Pleasants — who  was  visiting  friends  in  Prince  Edward 
county  near  the  college.     In  due  time  an  attachment  grew 
up  between  them,   and   perhaps   an    engagement   was   en- 
tered into.     But  when  the  case  came   before  the  parents 
they   declined    to    consent    to    the    j)i^c)posal,    solely   upon 
the  ground    that   the  home   of    the   young  licentiate   was 
located  in  the  remote  wilds  of  the  State  of  Georgia,  which 
was  then  considered  a  frontier  State,  and  exposed  to  the  in- 
cursions of  the  Indians.     They  w^ere  unwdlling  that  their 
daughter  should  encounter  the  perils  of  such  a  residence. 
The  affair  was  terminated  then  and  there,  as  such  a  thing 
as  filial  disobedience  formed  no  part  of  the  domestic  train- 
ing of  the  young  people  of  that  countiy  at  that  time.     They 
parted,  and  within  the  ensuing  years  from  1793  to  1800  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  "\Yaddel  to  Miss  Calhoun,  and  all  the  events 
of  this  history  in  his  pubhc  and  private  life  as  they  occurred, 
have   been    related   in   previous    j)ages.      He   remained    a 
wddower  for  about  four  years,  when,  having  learned  that 
Miss  Pleasants  was  stiU  unmarried,  he  renew^ed  his  suit. 
As  by  this  time  all  obstacles  to  their  union  had  been  re- 
moved providentially,  they  were  united  in  marriage  in  the 
year   1800.      After  his  second   marriage   they  resided  in 
Georgia  mitil  1801,  when,  as  already  recorded,  he  removed 
to  Vienna,  in  South  Carolina. 

There  he  continued  about  four  years,  teaching  and  preach- 
ino-,  and  while  there  still  a  petition  for  his  services  as  a 
preacher  was  presented  to  the  Presbytery  of  South  Carolina 
by  Hox^ewell  church,  in  Abbeville  District,  which  Presbytery 
granted.  He  was  at  that  time  a  member  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Hopewell,  but  on  the  7th  of  April,  1802,  he  was  received 
as  a  member  of  the  South  Carolina  Presbytery,  and  Hoj^e- 
well  church  was  gratified  by  enjoying  his  ministerial  sei*vices 


CHAPTEK   Yll. 

"WiTxiNGTON  Academy.— BriT.DiNG.—CHAR.vrTER  of  the  Instttt-tion. — 
Methods  of  IxsTErcTiox  and  Discipline. 

IN  1804  lie  removed  from  Yienna  to  Willington,  a  country 
residence  which  he  had  acquired,  distant  about  six  miles 
south  of  Yienna.     Here  he  laid  the  foundation  of  that  acad- 
emy which  was  destined  to  become  so  celebrated  as  the 
training  place  of  so  many   eminently   useful   men,  distm- 
o-uished  in  all  professions  and  pursuits  in  life,  in  South  Caro- 
lina and  Georgia.     Here  begins  the  history  of  education  in 
connection  with  his  labors  as  an  educator  in  South  Carolina, 
The  location  was  on  a  high  and  healthful  ridge  opening  up 
from  the  Savannah  river.     The  population  was  composed  of 
the  Scotch- Irish  and  the  noble  and  warm-hearted  Huguenots 
who  had  fled  from  France  to  escape  persecution,  and  who 
had  formed  a  settlement  in  this  neighborhood,  where  they 
could  worship  God  according  to  the  dictates  of  an  enlight- 
ened conscience,   "with  none  to  molest  or  to  make  them 
afraid."     These  were  his   neighbors   and  his  friends  and 
patrons.     They  were  high-toned  Calvinistic  Presbyterians, 
both  the  Scotch-Irish  and  the  French  Huguenots. 

No  more  accurate  and  rehable  description  can  be  pre- 
sented of  this  school  in  its  earher  history  than  that  which  is 
found  in  Yolume  II.  of  the  Jllstori/  of  South  Carolina,  by 
Dr  David  Ramsay,  of  Charleston.  The  rehableness  of  this 
description  will  be  assured  by  the  fact  that  Dr.  Eamsay 
wrote  from  personal  knowledge,  as  he  had  patronized  the 
academy  by  sending  two  sons  to  be  taught  and  trained  by 
Dr.  ^Yaddel.  The  entire  passage,  which  fills  pp.  3G9-371  of 
the  second  volume  of  the  History,  is  as  follows : 
4  49 


50  Moses  Waddel,  T>.  D. 

"Besides  what  lias  been  done  by  the  State  and  by  reli- 
gious sects  and  private  societies  for  the  advancement  of 
learning*  and  the  diffusion  of  religious  knowledge  among  the 
inhabitants,  there  are  several  private  schools,  both  in  Charles- 
ton and  the  country,  for  teaching  classical  and  mathematical 
learning.  Among  these,  one,  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
'Waddel,  of  Abbeville  District,  deserves  particular  notice.  In 
it  from  seventy  to  eightj^  students*  are  instructed  in  the 
Latin,  Greek,  and  French  languages,  and  in  such  of  the 
arts  and  sciences  as  are  necessary  to  prepare  a  candidate  for 
admission  iuto  the  higher  classes  of  the  Northern  Colleges. 
The  school-house  is  a  plain  log  building  in  the  midst  of  the 
woods,  in  a  high  and  healthy  country,  and  too  small  to 
accommodate  all  the  scholars  in  the  hours  of  study.  To 
obviate  this  inconvenience,  they  are  permitted  and  encouraged 
to  build  huts  in  the  vicinity.  These  are  the  rough  carpentry 
of  the  pupils,  or  constructed  by  workmen  for  about  four  dol- 
lars. In  these,  when  the  weather  is  cold,  and  under  the 
trees  when  it  is  warm,  the  different  classes  study.  To  the 
common  school  or  recitation  room  they  instantly  repair 
when  called  for,  by  the  name  of  the  Homer,  the  Xenophon, 
the  Cicero,  the  Horace,  or  Virgil  class,  or  by  the  name  of 
the  author  whose  writings  they  are  reading.  In  a  moment 
they  appear  before  their  preceptor,  and,  with  order  and  de- 
corum, recite  their  lessons ;  are  critically  examined  in  gram- 
mar and  syntax,  the  construction  of  sentences,  the  formation 
of  verbs,  the  antiquities  of  Greece  and  Rome,  the  history 
and  geography  of  the  ancients,  illustrative  of  the  author 
whose  works  they  recite ;  and  are  tnught  to  relish  his  beau- 
ties and  to  enter  into  his  spirit.  Thus  class  succeeds  to 
class,  without  the  formality  of  definite  hours  for  study  or 
recreation,  till  all  have  recited.  In  the  presence  of  the  stu- 
dents assembled  a  solemn  and  appropriate  praj'er,  imploring 
the  Eternal  in  their  behalf,  begins  and  ends  the  exercises  of 

*  The  number  grew  afterwards  to  180, 


WiLLiNGTON  Academy.  51 

each  day.  In  this  manner  the  classics  are  taught  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety  miles  from  the  sea  coast.  The  glowing 
periods  of  Cicero  are  read  and  admired.  The  melody  and 
majesty  of  Homer  deHght  the  ear  and  charm  the  under- 
standing in  the  very  spot  and  under  the  identical  trees 
which,  sixty  years  ago,  resounded  ^yith  the  war-whoop  and 
horrid  yeUings  of  savage  Indians. 

"  Of  the  large  number  that  attend  this  school  nine  in  ten 
are  as  studious  as  their  health  will  permit,  and  as  orderly  in 
their  conduct  as  their  friends  could  wish.  Far  removed 
from  the  dissipation  of  cities,  and  among  sober,  industrious, 
and  religious  people,  they  must  be  studious,  or  lose  all 
character,  and  be  pointed  at  by  the  finger  of  scorn.  If  dis- 
posed to  be  idle  or  vicious,  they  cannot  be  so  otherwise  than 
by  themselves ;  for  the  place  will  not  furnish  them  with 
associates.  Monitors  are  appointed  to  superintend  each 
sub-division  of  the  students;  and  such  as  transgress  the 
rules  of  the  school  are  reported  once  in  every  week.  Over 
them  a  court  is  held.  They  are  allowed  to  justify  or  ex- 
tenuate. A  summary  decision  is  made.  Though  corporal 
punishment  is  not  excluded,  it  is  rarely  inflicted.  The  dis- 
cipline of  the  school  respects  the  pride  of  youth,  and  is 
chiefly  calculated  to  repress  irregular  conduct  by  attaching 
to  it  shame  and  dishonor.  The  sagacious  preceptor  quickly 
finds  out  the  temper  and  disposition  of  each  student,  and  is 
the  first  to  discover  aberrations  from  the  straight  Hne  of 
propriety.  By  nipping  mischief  in  the  bud,  he  prevents  its 
coming  to  any  serious  height.  By  patience  in  teaching  and 
minutely  explaining  "what  is  difficult,  he  secures  the  afi*ec- 
tions  of  his  pupils  and  smooths  their  labors ;  while  at  the 
same  time  judicious  praise  rouses  ambition  and  kindles  in 
their  breasts  an  ardent  love  for  improvement  and  an  eager- 
ness to  deseiTe  and  gain  applause." 

The  History  from  which  the  above  extract  is  made  is  now 
almost  out  of  print,  or,  if  extant,  can  be  found  only  in  some 


52  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

of  the  public  libraries  of  the  State,  or  in  the  possession  of 
some  of  the  older  residents  of  South  Carolina.  The  copy 
from  which  the  foregoing  extract  is  taken  is  a  handsomely- 
bound  copy,  in  two  volumes,  j^resented  to  Dr.  Waddel  by 
the  author,  Dr.  Kamsay,  himself,  j^ublished  in  1809, 


CHAPTEE  YIIL 

ImPROVEMEKT  IX  THE   BuiLDING.  — ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  ChURCH.  — Re- 

^iTAii  IX  THE  Academy  axd  Xeighborhood  axd  Its  Results. 

THE  unexampled  prosperity  of  the  academy,  and  the  in- 
crease in  the  population  of  the  neighborhood,  rendered 
it  a  necessity,  in  the  judgment  of  all  concerned,  that  larger 
accommodations  should  be  provided  both  for  the  academy 
and  the  congregation.  Accordingly  an  arrangement  was 
entered  into  between  the  leading  citizens  of  the  neighbor- 
hood and  the  trustees  of  the  Vienna  Academy,  whereby  the 
building  was  removed  to  AVillington,  and  converted  into  a 
most  excellent  and  convenient  house  of  worship  and  academy 
building,  all  under  one  roof.  The  yrriter  readily  recalls 
this  establishment  in  memory,  then  the  largest  and  most 
im2:>osing  structure  that  had  up  to  that  time  ever  stood  before 
his  admiring  view.  The  building  was  composed  of  foiu' 
convenient  rooms  for  recitation,  and,  in  addition,  a  chapel, 
which  latter  room  served  the  two-fold  purpose  of  the  j^lace 
of  assembly  for  instructors  and  students  for  morning  and 
evening  worship  and  for  divine  service  on  the  Sabbath. 

In  the  year  1809  the  congregation  worshi])ping  in  this 
house  was  regularly  organized  as  a  Presbyterian  church. 
Three  of  the  male  members  were  chosen  by  the  peoj^le  to 
the  office  of  ruling  elder,  and  the  result  manifested  the  wis- 
dom of  their  selection.  The  French  descendants  of  the 
Huguenots  were  represented  in  this  session  by  Pierre  Gi- 
bert,  a  model  Christian  man  of  extensive  influence;  the 
Scotch-Irish  by  William  Noble,  long  known  and  loved  in  the 
suiTounding  country,  and  Moses  AV.  Dobbins,  one  of  the 
former  students  of  the  academy,  who  had  taught  also  as  au 

53 


54  Moses  "Waddel,  D.  D. 

assistant  under  Dr.  Waddel.  This  gentleman  afterwards 
became  one  of  the  teachers  in  the  University  Grammar 
School  at  Athens,  Ga. 

But  it  is  a  pleasing  fact  of  great  interest  and  importance 
to  the  history  of  the  Willington  Academy  to  notice  that 
about  this  time  it  j^leased  God  to  manifest  his  gracious  ap- 
proval of  the  work  of  the  church  and  academy  by  the  out- 
pouring of  his  Spirit  and  grnce  upon  the  students  and  the 
neighborhood.  The  result  of  this  revival  was  the  hopeful 
conversion  of  not  a  few  of  the  students,  a  goodly  proportion 
of  whom  became  distinguished  for  eminent  usefulness  in  the 
ministry.  Others,  who  never  became  ministers  of  the  gos- 
pel, but  were  pious  and  devoted  members  of  the  church, 
dated  their  first  rehgious  impressions  from  that  period.  In 
a  communication  prepared  by  Dr.  AYaddel  himself,  and  pub- 
lished in  a  i^ei'iodical  well  known  at  that  time  as  the  Panop- 
list,  he  states  that  nearly  half  the  students  then  m  attend- 
ance were  under  deep  conviction,  and  more  than  twenty  of 
the  number  were  hopefully  converted. 

It  may  be  a  matter  of  some  interest  to  state  that  not 
only  then,  but  subsequently,  some  of  the  prominent  minis- 
ters known  in  the  south  and  southwest  were  students  of 
Willington  Academy,  or  under  his  instruction  as  "students 
of  divinity."  These  were  not  all  from  Presbyterian  churches, 
but  a  few  of  them  belonged  to  other  denominations,  reading 
theology  under  his  direction.  One  at  least,  Eev.  Daniel 
Campbell,  was  an  Episcopalian,  and  another,  Eev.  John 
Wilson,  was  a  Baptist,  and  these,  with  Presb}i:erian  candi- 
dates, were  associated  with  him  either  in  the  academy  or  in 
private  instruction. 

Some  of  the  results  of  this  awakening,  which  are  not  of 
public  record,  were  communicated  to  the  writer  long  after 
the  suspension  of  the  active  operations  of  Willington  Acad- 
emy b}'  one  who  was  acquainted  with  the  facts.  The  state- 
ment referred  to  gives  evidence  of  the  depth  of  the  vrork 


Eesults  of  Revival.  55 

^^Touo-ht  m  the  spirit  of  some  of  tlie  students  ^vho  were  sub- 
jects'of  the  revival.      So  deeply  were  they  affected  as  to 
threaten  at  one  time  the  loss  of  both  physical  and  mental 
health.     There  were  four  especially  thus  operated  upon,  one 
of  whom  afterwards  was  an  eminent,  eloquent,  and  success- 
ful minister  of  the  gospel,  two  others  elders  of  high  standmg; 
in  the  church,  and  the  fourth  a  quiet,  unassummg  member 
of  the  church,  all  having  been  relieved  of  their  depression. 
But  the  result  upon  one  of  the  elders  was  that  he  became 
painfully   and  morbidly  sensitive  in  his  conscience.     Tha 
fourth   person   mentioned   became    afterwards   utterly   ab- 
sorbed, apparentlv,  in  his  devotional  life,  so  as  to  render 
him  absent-minded  in  company,  his  Ups  incessantly  moving 
in  secret  (though  inaudible)  prayer.     It  is  to  be  noted  that 
all  these  persons  were  consistent  Christians  m  all  their  lives, 
notwithst;nding  these  pecLiliarities      These  cases  illustrate 
the  nature  and  character  of  the  revival  that  occurred  at  tho- 
period  mentioned.     It  was  the  deep  and  earnest  work  ot 
solemn  presentations  of  divine  truth  from  the  pulpit.     The 
conversion  of  the  sinner  was  not  set  forth  as  a  human,  but. 
a  divine  work.     Should  any  regard  this  form  of  dealing  with 
sinners  as  extreme  and  as  beyond  measure  stern  and  lorbid- 
dino-  (which  is  not  admitted),  surely  it  is  far  preferable  to 
the  opposite  method  of  presenting  the  whole  matter  of  sal- 
vation as  a  work  of  such  facihty  as  to  bring  it  into  ridicule, 
and  almost  into  contempt. 


CHAPTEK  IX. 

FuETHEE  Notice  of  the  Govekxmext  and  Discipeixe  of  Wileikgton 
Academy. — Domestic  Histoey  of  De.  Waddel  axd  his  Family, 

IT  is  well  known  that  within  a  few  years  past  a  theory  has 
been  growing  in  favor  among  prominent  educators  in 
some  parts  of  our  country  that  the  student  body  should 
share  with  the  Facult}'"  in  the  government  and  discipline  of 
the  institution.  The  experiment  has  been  tried,  to  some 
extent,  in  several  colleges,  and  favorable  reports  of  the  suc- 
cess of  the  effort  to  reduce  the  theory  to  practice  have  been 
published.  It  is  too  early  in  the  history  of  this  experiment 
to  decide  the  result,  and  doubtless  there  may  be  found  occa- 
sionally some  friction  in  its  actual  working.  But  if  it  j)rove 
to  be  a  success  in  these  late  days  of  greater  freedom  of  ac- 
tion among  the  youth  of  the  "lising  generation/'  it  will  cer- 
tainly confirm  Dr.  Ramsay's  judgment,  as  announced  in  the 
eulogistic  statement  of  the  character  of  AVillington  Acad- 
emy, wherein  he  attributes  to  Dr.  "Waddel  great  sagacity  in 
his  discernment  of  the  best  mode  of  government  for  stu- 
dents. The  germ  of  this  very  j^riuciple  of  a  division  of 
responsibility  between  teacher  and  pupil  was  in  actual  exist- 
ence in  that  academy  more  than  sixty  years  ago.  In  this  co- 
operative system  of  government,  while  Dr.  AVaddel  should 
jiold  the  position  of  final  arbiter  in  all  cases  brought  up  for 
trial  in  the  academic  court,  a  jur}^  of  the  peers  of  the  accused 
"was  always  present,  who  were  allowed  to  decide  upon  the 
guilt  or  innocence  of  the  party  on  trial.  The  system  of 
monitorial  supervision  to  which  Dr.  Ramsay  refers  was  not 
of  the  secret,  detective  class,  but  having  been  appointed  by 
their  instructor  for  the  various  classes  or  sub-divisions  of 

56 


Discipline  at  Willington  Acadejiy.  57 

the  scliool,  the  monitors  were  known  publicly,  and  were  ex- 
pected by  the  students  themselves  to  report  all  violations  of 
law.  On  every  Monday  the  court  was  assembled,  all  the 
pupils  being  present.  The  tribunal  was  composed  of  the 
presiding  teacher,  the  jury  of  five,  the  accused,  and  the  wit- 
nesses. To  every  law  w^as  annexed  a  suitable  penalty  for 
infraction,  varying  in  its  extent  with  tho  nature  of  the 
offence.  After  all  the  testimony  had  been  heard,  in  case  the 
guilt  of  the  accused  was  established,  the  jury  rendered  a 
verdict  in  accordance  with  law.  The  penalty  was  then  in- 
flicted by  the  presiding  teacher  himself,  and  the  court  ad- 
journed. 

The  writer  recalls  a  scene  of  this  kind  related  by  Dr. 
^\'addel  himself.     He  prefaced  it  by  stating  that  at  one  time 
he  experienced  great  difficulty  in  his  efforts  to  break  up  a 
prevalent  habit  among  th&  students  of  settling  all  personal 
disputes  by  fighting.     On  every  successive  Monday's  court 
cases  would  be  found  upon  the  calendar,  tried,  and  disposed 
of;  yet  the  infliction  of  the  penalty  of  ordinary  corporal 
chastisement  had  failed  to  check  the  evil.     He  therefore  an- 
nounced publicly  that,  in  case  this  offence  were  repeated 
and  reported  at  any  future  time,  the  aggressor  should  be 
sentenced  "to  take  off  his  coat!  "     Accordingly,  at  the  next 
meeting  of  the  court,  a  case  of  fighting  was  reported.     The 
trial  was  conducted  regularly  through  all  the  forms  pre- 
scribed by  law,   and  the  proof  was  made  clear  that  the 
accused  party  was  the   aggressor.     The   order   was   then 
issued  by  Dr.  Waddel  to  him  to  take  off  his  coat ;  but  instead 
of  promptly  obeying,  the  student,  rising  from  his  seat,  ad- 
di-essed  him  as  ^follows:     "Dr.  AVaddel,  my  father  never 
made  me  take  off  my  coat,  and  I  shall  never  take  it  off  for 
any  man !  "     The  order  was  issued  a  second  and  a  third 
time,  with  the  repetition,  on  the  part  of  the  student,  of  the 
same  defiance.     On  the  third  issuance  of  the  order,  how- 
ever, the  young  hero  was  informed  that  if  the  coat  was  not 


58  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

removed  by  himself,  the  Dr.  would  divest  him  of  his  coat 
■with  his  own  hands.  Suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  he 
stepped  toward  the  youth,  who  had  repeated  the  speech 
entire ;  but  when  he  j^erceived  that  the  coat  was  doomed  to 
come  off,  whether  he  would  or  w^ould  not,  he  added  to  the 
expression,  "I  shall  never  take  it  off  for  any  man"  the 
words,  "  You,  sir,  excepted !  "  This  closed  the  unpleasant 
scene,  and  when  the  order  was  obeyed  by  the  lad.  Dr.  AVad- 
del  proceeded  to  chastise  him  with  a  few  strokes  of  the  rod 
vjjoii  the  lower  limbs,  as  usual,  never  having  designed  from 
the  beginning  to  lay  the  rod  upon  the  shoulders.  The  pen- 
alty of  removing  the  outer  garment  was  regarded  as  suffi- 
ciently severe,  and  the  result  was  that  no  more  fights 
occurred  among  the  students. 

Other  instances  in  evidence  and  illustration  of  his  mode* 
of  discipline  might  be  adduced,  and  they  w^ould  all  confirm 
a  remark  made  by  the  historian.  Dr.  Eamsay :  "  The  dis- 
cipline of  the  institution  respects  the  pride  of  the  youth,  and 
is  chiefly  designed  to  repress  irregular  conduct  by  attaching 
to  it  shame  and  dishonor." 

It  is  perhaps  j)i'oper  at  this  time  that  the  reader  should 
be  admitted  to  a  view^  of  the  private  history  and  the  domes- 
tic life  of  Dr.  Waddel.  To  the  outside  world,  knowing  him 
only  as  a  public  man,  there  could  be  but  an  imperfect  ap- 
preciation of  certain  traits  and  elements  of  his  real  person- 
ality, which  could  only  be  known  in  the  privacy  and  retire- 
ment of  his  own  family  cii-cle.  He  was,  no  doubt,  a  repre- 
sentative of  a  class  now  almost,  if  not  entirely,  extinct.  His 
views  of  right  and  wrong  were  sharply  cut,  and  were  drawn 
from  and  based  upon  a  Bible  standard  entirely,  and  were 
deeply  tinged  with  Scotch-Irish  notions  of  rigidness  to  the 
letter.  Futui*e  generations,  descendants  of  his  former  pupils, 
have  the  conception  of  him,  handed  down  by  tradition,  as  of 
a  stern  and  rigid  disciplinarian  ;  but  his  own  children  know 
that  the  proper  word  to  express  that  sternness  is  fin j mess 


Discipline  at  HoivrE.  59 

in  the  enforcement  of  what  he  knew  to  be  right ;  for  what- 
ever may  have  been  the  Hght  in  w^hich  his  course  of  home 
rule  was  regarded  by  his  children,  under  the  influence  of 
the  impatience  of  control  natural  to  youth,  it  is  the  matured 
and  deliberate  opinion  of  the  writer,  formed  in  subsequent 
review  of  the  circumstances,  that  all  that  was  apparently  so 
rigid  in  his  discipline  resulted  from  his  great  anxiety  to  train 
his  household  to  obedience  and  to  the  abhorrence  of  evil.  It 
did  not  deserve  the  name  of  unfeeling  sternness  so  much  a& 
wise  firmness.  In  after  years,  when  his  life  was  graciously 
prolonged  to  witness  the  outcome  of  his  system  of  family 
training  in  the  respectability  and  usefulness  of  all  his  chil- 
dren, and  the  highly  honorable  positions  attained  by  some 
of  them,  he  manifested  great  enjoyment  in  their  society,  and 
maintained,  by  correspondence  with  them,  the  most  unre- 
served interchange  of  thought.  It  is  confidently  added 
that,  with  all  his  adherence  to  strict  government  in  his 
family,  there  never  throbbed  in  human  bosom  a  more  kindly 
and  tender  heart.  The  rule  thus  truthfully  described  never 
lost  its  power  to  inspire  reverence  toward  him,  but  it  cer- 
tainly, in  riper  years,  was  softened  into  affectionate  respect 
for  him  and  confidential  intercourse  with  him. 

Mrs.  E.  W.  "Waddel,  who  was  the  mother  of  all  the  chil- 
dren who  survived  him,  presents  in  the  record  of  her  life  a 
picture  the  reverse  of  all  this  in  some  important  points,  and 
yet  cooperating  harmoniously  in  all  her  husband's  views  of 
wise  and  proper  government.  Yet  the  contrast  between  the 
two  was  indeed  striking.  He,  all  firmness ;  she,  all  mild- 
ness ;  he,  commanding  obedience ;  she,  winning  it  by 
gentleness ;  his  course,  while  not  forbidding,  at  the  same 
time  not  encoui'aging,  familiarity;  hers,  always  attracting- 
her  children  to  her  as  companions.  This  rare  combination 
of  opposite  elements  Avas  doubtless  designed  by  a  kind 
Providence  to  constitute  the  best  possible  agency  for  estab- 
hshing  such  a  system  of  family  training  as  would  tend  most 


60  Moses  "Waddel,  T>.  T>. 

wisely  to  the  formation  of  the  character  of  children.  Taken 
alone,  the  firm  and  strict  rule  of  the  father  might  have  en- 
gendered discontent  and  aversion ;  but  the  loving  sway  of 
the  mother  exerted  a  conservative  power  by  its  wise  gentle- 
ness. On  the  contrar}^  the  tenderness  of  this  last  method 
might  have  produced  a  disregard  and  forgetfulness  of  legiti- 
mate authority  but  for  the  exaction  of  implicit  obedience  on 
the  part  of  the  father.  It  is  only  necessary  to  state  the 
facts  very  briefly  respecting  the  children  of  these  parents. 
They  were  six  in  number,  four  of  whom  were  sons,  and  two 
daughters,  viz. :  James  Pleasants,  Isaac  Watts,  William 
Woodson,  Sarah  Elizabeth,  Maiy  Anna,  and  John  Newton. 
They  all  survived  their  parents,  and  the  last  two  were  still 
livmg  in  1891. 


CHAPTER  X. 

CONFEKEIXG   OF   THE    DeGKEE   OF    D.     D.— FoREICrNERS    BeCEIYING     In- 

STEi-cTioN  From  Him  in  Ekglish. — An  In-cidext.— Style  of  Old- 
Fashioxed  Chi-rch  Bl-ilding.— Mode  of  Conducting  the  Music 
AND  OF  Administering  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

THE  reputation  of  Dr.  Wadclel  was  ackDowledged  through- 
out  the  State,  and  in  the  year  1807  he  was  honored 
with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  by  the  College  of 
South  Carolina  during  the  presidency  of  Dr.  Maxcy.  The 
writer  remembers  to  have  seen  a  small  parchment  diploma, 
on  which  was  inscribed  the  fact  that  the  degree  had  been 
conferred,  and  duly  certified  by  the  college  authorities. 
This  honor  was  not  so  easily  obtained,  and  consequently  not 
so  cheap  as  it  has  become  in  the  lapse  of  time.  The  insti- 
tutions which  felt  at  that  time  justified  in  bestowmg  it  were 
of  the  highest  rank  in  the  world  of  letters,  and  were  far 
more  cautious  than  many  of  them  are  in  this  age  as  to  the 
individuals  upon  whom  they  should  confer  this  honor.  But 
in  the  case  of  Dr.  AVaddel  there  was  excited  no  sui*prise 
that  the  South  Carolma  College  should  have  honored  him  in 
this  way. 

It  is  true,  perhaps,  as  is  generally  sup>posed,  that  his 
name  is  more  widely  known  and  associated  with  the  cause 
of  education  than  with  the  ministiy  of  the  gospel;  yet  in 
the  earliest  years  of  his  ministerial  Hfe  he  was  much  sought 
after,  and  he  was  greatly  beloved  by  the  more  sohd  and  sub- 
stantial portions  of  his  congregations,  from  the  fact  that  he 
drew  all  his  inspiration  from  the  pure  fountain  of  Cod's 
word,  of  which  he  was  always  a  close  student.  There  as- 
suredly never  entered  into  his  sermons,  as  an  element,  the 

61 


€2  Moses  Vv'addel,  D.  D. 

slightest  touch  of  sensationaHsm.  His  dehvery  was  earnest 
and  animated,  but  by  no  means  boisterous  or  violent.  His 
sermons  ■were  never  written  out  in  full.  He  always  prepared 
skeletons  on  very  small-sized  leaves  of  paper  and  in  a  hand- 
writing so  diminutive,  and  with  certain  hieroglyphics  of  his 
own  adoption  so  obscure,  as  to  be  almost  illegible  to  any  be- 
side himself.  He  also  had  Bibles  bound  of  duodecimo  size 
with  blank  leaves  inserted  between  the  pages,  on  which  he 
wrote  these  skeletons  in  this  infinitesimal  style.  There  are 
still  in  the  possession  of  some  of  his  surviving  friends  many 
of  these  briefs,  serving  only  as  relics  of  hun,  but  not  answer- 
ing any  fui'ther  j)ui'pose  by  reason  of  their  illegible  chiro- 
graphy.  Yet  from  these  notes  he  was  never  at  the  slightest 
loss  for  language,  but  being  a  fluent  speaker,  his  habit  was 
to  preach  rarely  ever  less  than  one  hour.  His  distribution 
of  the  matter  of  a  sermon  was  exhaustive,  and  the  perora- 
tion, or  summing  up,  of  the  discourse  left  the  entire  sermon 
clearl}'  and  distinctly  impressed  upon  the  mind  of  any  atten- 
tive listener.  The  v^Titer,  when  a  student  of  the  University 
of  Georgia,  enjoyed  the  great  privilege  of  sitting  as  a  pupil 
under  the  instruction  of  the  eminent  and  eloquent  Eev.  Dr. 
Stex^hen  Olin,  at  that  time  j)rofessor  of  Belles  Lettres,  etc., 
in  the  faculty.  The  text-book  which  he  used  was  Blair  s 
Lectures  (University  edition).  In  discussing  the  lecture  on 
the  di^dsion  of  a  discourse,  the  remark  was  made  by  Dr. 
Olin  to  the  class  that  Dr.  Waddel  was  a  perfect  example  of 
a  preacher  who  successfully  illustrated  Dr.  Blau-'s  method 
in  this  point. 

Dr.  Waddel's  work  as  a  teacher  was  not  all  performed  in 
the  school-room.  He  was  accustomed  to  give  j^i'i^'ate  in- 
struction occasionally  to  persons  who,  coming  especially 
from  France,  were  desirous  of  learning  to  speak  the  English 
language.  Being  himself  a  master  of  the  French  language, 
and  very  fluent  in  speaking  it,  he  was  prepared  to  teach 
such  foreigners  the  use  of  our  tongue.       One  of  these  men 


Sabbath  Observance.  63 

having'  heard  of  Dr.  AVaddel  as  a  French  teacher,  came,  on 
his  landing  on  our  shores,  apphed,  and  was  received  as  a 
pupil  under  his  care  and  as  a  member  of  his  family.  The 
name  of  this  Frenchman  was  L'Andrd.  On  a  certain  Sab- 
bath day  in  wintry  weather,  finding  his  fire  getting  low,  he 
^ent  to  the  wood-pile  and  began  to  cut  fire -wood.  The 
sound  of  the  axe  on  the  Sabbath  being  something  so  extra- 
ordinary on  those  premises  (being  a  violation  of  positive  or- 
ders well-known  to  all  the  household),  fell  sharply  upon  the 
ear  of  Dr.  "Waddel  as  he  sat  in  his  study.  He  walked  out 
immediately,  and,  discovering  that  it  was  the  Frenchman 
thus  engaged,  he  approached  him  and  explained  to  him  that 
this  work  was  not  allowed  to  be  done  on  his  place  on  the 
Sabbath,  and  showed  him  the  reason  for  the  prohibition. 
AYhereupon  Monsieur  L'Andre,  being  at  once  convinced  of 
the  impropriety  of  his  conduct,  and  in  order  to  manifest  his 
regret  that  he  had  unintentionally  violated  the  rule,  seizing 
ihe  axe,  hurled  it  with  his  utmost  strength  and  buried  it  in 
the  trunk  of  a  neighboricg  tree !  Two  things  are  illustrated 
by  this  incident :  First,  the  rigid  observance  of  the  Sabbath 
exacted  of  all  the  members  of  that  family,  and  second,  the 
influence  of  Dr.  AVaddel  in  controlling  his  family,  including 
even  "the  stranger  within  his  gates."  L'Andre,  after  a  con- 
siderable period  spent  pleasantly  with  Dr.  AYaddel,  left  him 
and  settled  permanently  in  Louisiana. 

To  return  to  some  matters  of  more  public  nature,  it  may 
probably  interest  the  reader  to  have  presented  some  of  the 
peculiarities  of  public  worship  as  conducted  in  the  Presby- 
terian churches  of  the  period  under  consideration.  The 
contrast  between  the  methods  then  observed  and  those 
23revalent  in  the  present  time  may  be  worthy  of  study  and 
observation.  To  begin  with  the  inside  finish  of  the  house  of 
"worship  itself,  it  was  of  plain  construction  of  wooden  mate- 
rial, and  nothing  of  ornament,  but  solid  and  comfortable. 
The  pews  were  ordinary  benches  with  backs  to  them,  and 


C4  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

though  not  invariably  rented,  yet  were  generally  distributed 
upon  some  equitable  principle,  so  that  each  family  occupied 
its  own  pew,  and  the  children,  as  a  rule,  sat  with  the  parents. 
The  j^ulpit  of  the  AVillington  church  was  a  very  high,  hex- 
agonal, box-like  arrangement  of  panel  work,  closed  on  all 
sides,  and  entered  by  a  door,  w^hich  was  closed  during  wor- 
shijD.  This  pulpit  entirely  concealed  the  preacher  from 
view  excejot  while  engaged  in  conducting  service,  and  even 
then  his  bust  only  was  visible.  Some  pulpits  were  furnished 
with  a  structure  called  a  sounding  board,  a  flat  surface 
placed  behind  the  preacher  and  over  his  head  to  give  dis- 
tinctness to  the  voice.  At  the  base  of  the  pulpit,  and  in 
front  of  it,  was  generally  found  a  Httle  inclosure  large  enough 
to  contain  two  persons,  and  furnished  with  an  ordinary 
bench.  This  was  assigned  to  the  precentor,  or  clerk,  whose 
office  it  was  to  raise  the  tune,  parceling  out  the  lines  after 
the  hymn  had  been  selected  and  read  by  the  minister.  In 
those  j)rimitive  days  there  was  a  necessity  for  the  clerk  to 
parcel  out  the  lines  of  the  hymn,  as  scarcely  any  one  was 
supposed  to  have  a  hymn-book  in  hand. 

In  these  days,  when  everything,  even  among  our  churches, 
is  on  the  march  onward  and  upward,  all  this  is  changed. 
The  old-fashioned  high,  closed  pulpit  is  banished,  and  a 
small  desk,  just  large  enough  to  hold  the  pulpit  Bible  and 
hymn-book,  has  taken  its  place.  Ornamental  pews,  or 
chairs,  appear  now,  instead  of  the  old-fashioned  hard 
benches.  The  trained  choir  and  a  grand  organ  have  been 
substituted  for  the  solitary  clerk  and  his  assistant,  with  no 
parcelmg  out  of  lines,  as  every  one  is  supposed  to  have  a 
hymn-book,  if,  indeed,  they  are  allowed  by  some  choirs  to 
sing  at  all.  But  the  mode  of  administering  the  sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  supper  presented  then  an  equally  striking 
contrast  to  the  same  solemn  Y>n.Tt  of  public  worship  as  con- 
ducted now  in  our  churches.  The  minister  Mas  expected  to 
preach  what  was  technically  called  "  The  Action  Sermon.'" 


Administering  the  Lord's  Supper.  65 

This  was  understood  to  be  a  sermon  i^eculiarly  apiiropriate 
to  the  solemn  occasion,  being  an  ex^^osition  of  a  passage  of 
Scripture  calculated  and  designed  to  impress  the  audience 
with  the  great  subject  of  the  death  and  sufferings  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour,  and  their  purpose  in  the  plan  of  salva- 
tion.    At  the  close  of  the  sermon  he  proceeded  to  explain 
the  nature  of  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper,  and,  after 
pointing  out  the  qualifications  of  those  who  proposed  to 
commune,  which  exercise  was  also  known  l)y  the  name  of 
"Fencing  the  Tables,"  i.  6  ,  guarding  them  against  the  in- 
trusion of  unworthy  characters,  the  invitation  was  cordially 
extended  to  all  who  were  in  good  standing  in  their  own 
churches  to  come  forward  and  join  in  partaking  of  the  sac- 
rament.    On    communion    occasions,    instead    of   a   public 
assignment  of  special  pews  to  be  occupied  by  communicants, 
X^ointed  out  by  the  minister,  and  only  one  service  for  all,  a, 
long  table,  reaching  down  the  centre  aisle,  was  j)laced  at  the 
time  of  the  communion.     At  the  head  of  this  long  table  was 
placed  a  smaller  table,  on  which  the  elements  were  arranged, 
and  covered  with  snow-white  cloth.     Over  the  full  length  of 
the  long  centre  table  a  similar  covering  was  spread.     The 
elders  were  in  the  habit  of  distributing  to  the  communi- 
cants httle  leaden  medals,  or  tokens,  as  a  recognition  of 
their  right  to  a  seat.     This  was  done  previous  to  the  taking 
of  their  seats  at  the  long  table,  and  as  they,  at  the  proper 
time,  filed  up  the  aisle  and  seated  themselves  at  the  table, 
these  tokens  were  collected  again  by  the  elders.     All  being 
seated,  the  minister,  at  the  head  of  the  small  table,  pro- 
ceeded to  administer  the  ordinance  according  to  forms  pre- 
scribed.    More  frequently  than  otherwise,  it  was  necessary 
to  serve  the  table  more  than  once,  as  the  number  of  com- 
municants was  often  so  large  that  they  could  not  be  all 
seated  at  one  table.    As  communion  meetings  were  generally 
largely  attended,  and  the  interest  was  sometimes  very  great, 
the  minister  in  charge,  almost  invariably,  secured  the  assist- 
5 


-66  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

ance  of  a  neighboring  brother  or  brothers  to  aid  him  in 
preaching  and  serving  with  hiin  in  administering  the  sacra- 
ment, and  very  often  from  three  to  fom:  or  five  tables  were 
sjDread  and  served  on  one  such  occasion.  Doubtless  there 
are  advantages  in  the  changes  introduced  in  modern  times 
in  sof7ie  of  these  customs  of  pubHc  worship ;  but  to  those 
who  were  actors  in  those  early  days  of  our  church  hfe  they 
were  all  invested  with  the  deepest  solemnity,  and  the  influ- 
ence exerted  upon  the  devout  church  members  was  decidedly 
favorable  to  their  growth  in  the  divine  life. 


CHAPTEK  XL 

Work  Accomplished  as  a  Teacher.  — Men  Trained  by  Him  "Who  Be- 
came Distinguished. — Correction  of  a  Statement  in  Parton's 
Life  of  General  Jackson. — Abkangements  for  Retiring  from 
Teaching. 

JT  is  impossible  even  to  name  the  individuals  composing 
the  long  list  of  his  pupils,  even  were  it  proper  to  occupy 
the  needed  space  in  this  record,  or  to  impose  upon  the  time 
and  patience  of  the  reader  to  such  an  extent.     For  a  true 
and  fair  estimate  of  his  life  work,  however,  this  enumeration 
is  not  by  any  means  necessary.     It  may  be  sufficient  to  state 
that  such  a  catalogue,  if  presented,  would  be  found  to  cover 
all  spheres  of  honorable  and  useful  effort.     Of  ministers 
who  attained  high  standing  for  devoted  piety,  zeal,  and  elo- 
quence in  the  south  and  southwest  a  goodly  proportion  re- 
ceived both  theii'  literary  and  their  theological  training  un- 
der his  instruction.     Such  were  the  Rev.  Eichard  B.  Cater, 
D.  D.,  Eev,  John  H.  Gray,  D.  T>.,  Eev.  David  Humphreys, 
Eev.  James  Gamble,  Eev.  James  C.  Patterson,  D.  D.,  Eev. 
Thomas  D.  Baird,  D.  D.,  Eev.  John  AVilson,  Eev.  Daniel 
Campbell,  and  many  others  who  have  gone  long  since  to 
their  reward.     They  have  left  behind  them  their  works,  and 
their  influence  is  still  felt  by  thousands  who  never  knew 
them  on  this  earth.     In  public  and  pohtical  life  may  be 
found,  in  addition  to  John  C.  Calhoun  and  to  WiUiam  H. 
Crawford,   both   of   whom   have    already  been  mentioned, 
George    McDuffie,    Hugh   S.    Legare,  James   L.  Pettigru, 
Pickens  Butler,  this  last  having  served  in  the  United  States 
Senate,  colleague  of  Calhoun;  all  South  Carolinians,  with 
others  of  "less  note,  but  not  less  gifted,"  as  Noble,  Bull, 

67 


68  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

Dawson,  "Walker,  Marshall,  Shields,  Simpkius,  and  others 
who  served  the  State  with  eminent  success.  Then  of  his 
Georgia  pupils  we  enumerate,  besides  Crawford,  Cobb, 
Longstreet,  Gilmer,  Apphng,  who  reflected  great  credit  upon 
their  teacher  in  the  councils  and  courts  of  the  State  and  of 
the  nation. 

Just  here  it  falls  in  with  the  purpose  of  this  record  to 
Tindicatc  the  reputation  of  Dr.  Waddel  from  a  charge  of  ig- 
norance implied  in  an  anecdote,  which  is  found  in  Parton's 
L\fe  of  Andrew  Jaclxson.  As  an  illustration  of  the  Gene- 
ral's habit  of  pronouncing  many  Enghsh  words  improper ty, 
the  author  states  that  on  one  occasion  the  word  development 
came  into  use  in  the  course  of  conversation,  when  the  Gene- 
ral pronounced  it  with  the  accent  upon  the  first  and  third 
syllables — "de-vil-6pe-ment."  "When  corrected  he  retorted 
with  this  defiant  remark:  "I  care  not  how  others  pro- 
nounce that  word ;  my  old  teacher,  Dr.  AVaddel,  always  pro- 
nounced it  this  way,  and  so  shall  I ! "  Now,  the  absurdity 
of  this  story  will  appear  at  once  when  it  is  well  known  that 
General  Jackson  not  only  never  was  a  pupil  of  Dr.  Waddel, 
but  there  is  no  proof  that  they  ever  met,  or  had  the  slight- 
est acquaintance  with  each  other.  So  that  whatever  credit 
might  have  been  reflected  upon  the  memory  of  Dr.  Waddel 
from  numbering  the  great  warrior  among  his  pupils,  the 
truth  of  history  demands  that  this  honor  (?)  shall  be  res]3ect- 
f ully  declined !  The  friends  and  descendants  of  Dr.  Wad- 
del are  satisfied  with  the  following  testimony  of  Judge  Long- 
street,  who  was  one  of  his  most  honored  pupils  and  most 
devoted  friends  and  admirers.  It  is  found  in  a  most  elo- 
quent eulogy  pronounced  in  Athens,  Ga.,  before  the  alumni 
of  the  University  of  Georgia,  and  at  their  request,  in  August, 
1841 : 

"The  fruits  of  his  vineyard  are  scattered  far  and  wide 
through  the  most  of  the  Southern  States,  and  long  havethey 
been  seen  in  rich  luxuriance  in  the  capitol  of  the  Union.  .  . 


Invited  to  the  University  of  Georgia.  69 

One  of  his  jDupils  reached  the  second  post  in  the  gift  of  the 
people  of  the  United  States,  and  for  many  years  were  two  of 
them  the  favorites  of  a  vast  number  of  that  people  for  the  first. 
It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  there  were  times  when  the}-  might 
have  obtained  it ;  and  yet  the  time  will  never  come  when 
unbiased  history  will  record  that  it  was  above  their  deserts. 
For  thirtv  years  he  has  not  been  without  some  Ajax  in  the 
field  of  political  w^arfare,  where  all  the  champions  of  the 
States  convene,  whom,  whatever  we  may  have  thought  or 
said  of  his  tactics,  we  all  felt  proud  to  acknowledge  as  a 
southron,  and  prouder  still  to  recognize  as  a  fellow-disciple.'* 
The  entire  period  of  Dr.  Waddel's  residence  at  Willington 
covered  a  space  of  fourteen  or  fifteen  years,  and  during 
nearly  all  this  time  he  had  been  assiduousl}',  either  person- 
ally or  by  general  superintendence,  conducting  the  govern- 
ment and  instruction  of  the  academy.  But  he  had  long 
cherished  the  desire  to  withdraw  from  the  practical  business 
of  teaching  at  the  earliest  possible  time  consistent  with  his 
views  of  duty.  For  some  length  of  time  the  daily  work  was 
entrusted  to  the  hands  of  his  nephew,  Moses  Waddel  Dob- 
bins, and  perhaps  another  of  his  former  pupils.  This  only 
continued  during  his  actual  residence  there.  It  was  while 
Dr.  Waddel  was  devoting  more  of  his  attention  to  preaching 
and  to  his  private  interests  that  he  received  an  urgent  and 
persistent  invitation  to  the  presidency  of  the  University  of 
Georgia.  This  call  proceeded  from  the  friends  of  the  insti- 
tution, among  whom  were  some  of  his  former  pupils.  That 
he  was  for  a  long  time  decidedly  ojjposed  to  the  proposition 
is  matter  of  tradition,  coming  down  from  an  intimate  friend 
to  whom  he  communicated  his  views  and  feelings  on  the 
subject.  That  friend  has  been  heard  to  say  that  his  mental 
anxiety,  while  considering  the  question,  was  deep  and  his 
sufferings  extreme.  The  idea  of  undertaking  the  heavy  re- 
sponsibility involved  in  resuscitating  the  institution  from  a 
condition  of  temporary  suspension  into  which  it  had  fallen, 


70  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

and  to  impart  to  it  tliat  life  and  animation  which  would  be  na- 
turally expected,  and  which  was  so  desh'able,  was  viewed  with 
profound  reluctance  on  his  part,  and  was  regarded  as  a  Her- 
culean entei^^rise.  His  objections  were  all  met  and  overruled 
by  his  friends,  and  he  was  even  visited  by  a  committee,  and 
lU'ged  so  strongly  to  accept  the  office  that  he  yielded.  To 
this  decision  he  was,  doubtless,  also  led  in  answer  to  his  own 
earnest  prayers  for  divine  guidance.  His  election  to  this 
high  and  important  position  occui-red  in  1818,  and  he  began 
the  preparations  that  were  needful  to  his  removal  from  the 
spot  where  he  had  passed  so  many  happy  and  peaceful 
years  of  his  life,  and  where  he  had  so  successfully  laid  the 
foundation  of  an  enduiing  fame. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Memoir  of  Caroline  Elizabeth  Smelt.— Removal  to  Athens. — Pre- 
vious History  of  the  L'niveksity. — Condition  of  Buildings  and 
Endowment.  — Prospects. 

IT  Avas  about  this  time  when  he  vras  considering  the  ques- 
tion of  removal,  that  at  the  earnest  request  of  some  highly- 
esteemed  fi'iends  in  Augusta,  Ga.,  he  consented  to  "revise^ 
arrange,  and  prepare  for  publication  the  papers  containing 
the  memoirs  of  Miss  Caroline  Elizabeth  Smelt."  This  task 
was  to  him  a  labor  of  love,  and  the  book  was  published  in 
1819  in  New  York.  It  proved  to  be  "a  highly-interesting 
and  popular  work,  which  soon  reached  a  third  edition  in 
this  country  and  at  least  two  in  Great  Britain."  He  re- 
mained at  Willington  until  1819,  when,  having  perfected  all 
his  plans  for  removal,  he  left  Willington  with  his  family, 
and,  pui'suing  his  journey  by  private  conveyance,  as  it  was 
long  before  the  era  of  railway  travel,  he  arrived  at  Athens 
in  May,  and  at  once  began  the  work  which  he  came  to  per- 
form. 

Some  preliminary  history  of  the  university  ma}"  not  be 
out  of  place  just  at  this  point,  to  show  the  exact  condition  of 
things  as  they  existed  on  the  accession  of  Dr.  Waddel  to  the 
Presidency.  The  first  notice  of  the  University  found  in  the 
archives  of  the  State  is  the  act  of  the  Legislature  of  1781, 
in  the  eleventh  section  of  which  act  forty  thousand  acres  of 
land  were  set  apart  for  the  endowment  of  a  college  or  semi- 
nary of  learning.  This  was  followed,  in  1785,  by  an  act  of 
the  Legislature  granting  a  charter  for  the  establishment  of 
an  institution  which  was  called  "The  Eniversity  of  Georgia." 
This  was  not  carried  into  a  regular  organization  until  the 

71 


72  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

year  1801.  A  statement  of  Dr.  Henrv  Hull,  ^Yho  describes 
those  early  times,  is  to  the  following  effect:  "The  Governor, 
the  State  Senate,  and  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  "Cni- 
Tersity  of  Georgia  being  stirred  to  action  by  public  com- 
plaints of  their  neglect  of  that  institution,  which  had  hitherto 
existed  only  on  paper,  met  and  appointed  a  committee  to  se- 
lect a  site  for  its  location."  The  result  of  the  investigations 
of  this  committee  was  the  selection  of  a  spot  on  the  Oconee 
river  (which  was  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Athens),  and 
a  tract  of  land  consisting  of  six  hundred  and  thirty-three 
acres  of  land  was  purchased  there  by  the  munificence  of  the 
Governor,  John  Milledge,  and  presented  as  a  donation  to 
the  trustees.  The  election  of  the  first  president,  Josiah 
Meigs,  took  place  in  the  same  year,  1801,  and  he  resigned 
in  1811.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Dr.  John  Brown,  whose 
term  of  service  ended  in  1816.  The  third  president  was 
Hev.  Robert  Finle^-,  D.  D.,  of  New  Jersey,  whose  term  of 
service  continued  but  a  few  months,  and  he  died  in  1817. 

The  same  writer  referred  to  above  (Dr.  Henry  Hull) 
states:  "The  prospect  of  the  college  grew  darker,  until  for 
three  years,  1817- 18-'19,  there  was  a  virtual  suspension  of 
worko  In  1819  the  board  elected  to  the  presidency  the 
most  popular  educator  in  the  south.  Rev.  Dr.  Moses  Wad- 
del.  Dr.  Henry  Jackson,  jlr.  John  R.  Golding,  and  Dr. 
Alonzo  Church  were  elected  professors,  and  Mr.  Ebenezer 
!Newton  tutor.  These  constituted  the  best  Faculty  the  col- 
lege had  ever  had,  w^hich,  together  with  the  new  endowment, 
.^ave  new  life  to  the  Institution.  The  philosophical  hall  was 
built  and  equipjDed  with  new  apparatus,  and  the  University 
entered  upon  a  career  of  usefulness  which  is  unabated  to 
the  present  day." 

On  the  arrival  of  Dr.  AYaddel  in  Athens  he  found  that  the 
President's  bouse  had,  after  the  lapse  of  some  fifteen  years 
or  more,  fallen  into  such  a  condition  as  to  require  consider- 
able repairs,  and  could  not  on  that  accoimt  be  occupied. 


The  University  of  Georgia.  "73 

^liile  the  needed  renovation  was  in  i^rogress,  lie,  with  his 
faniilv,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  five  children,  took  board- 
ing at  what  was  then  known  as  "Steward's  Hall,  or  "Com- 
mons," for  students.     This  building  was  located  at  a  dis- 
tance of  two  or  three  hundred  yards  south  of  the  old  college, 
and  it  was  then  in  the  charge  of  a  lady,  described  in  Dr.  Hull  s 
Sketches  of  the  Earhj  Historij  of  Athens  "as  the  venerable 
and  venerated  Mrs.  Katherine  Newton."     In  this  she  was 
assisted  by  her  son,  Colonel  Josiah  Newton.     She  was  "the 
relict  of  the  Rev.  John  Newton,  mentioned  in  Chap.  I.,  page 
29,  of  this  Memoir  as  one  of  the  successive  presiding  teachers 
of  "Clio's  Nursery,"  while  Dr.  Waddel  was  one  of  its  pupils. 
:Mr.  Newton  was  then  a  candidate  for  the  ministry,  but  was 
afterwards  licsnsed  and  ordained  to  the  full  work  of  the 
gospel  ministrv.     Dr.  Hull  states  that  "he  was  the  first 
Presbyterian  minister,  or,  at  any  rate,  the  first  settled  pas- 
tor in  Georgia."     Be  that  as  it  may,  at  the  time  here  men- 
tioned Mrs.^Newton  was  a  widow,  with  three  sons  in  Athens. 
How  long  this  temporary  abode  at  the  hall  with  her  con- 
tinued is  not  now  known,  but  Dr.  AYaddel  entered  the  Presi- 
dent's house  at  the  earhest  possible  period.     At  this  time 
the  buildings  belonging  to  the  University  were  but  three  m 
number,  consisting  of  the  President's  house,  a  story  and 
a  half  in  height;  the  old  College  building,  of  brick,  three 
stories  high,  and  an  old  dilapidated  framed  building  on  the 
west  side  of  the  campus,  which  had  been  used  as  a  chapel, 
and,  after  undergoing  considerable  repairs,  was  made  to 
serve  the  purpose  of  morning  and  evening  prayers.     It  was 
also  for  years  afterwards  the  only  house  for  public  worship 
in  the  town  of  Athens.     It  was  afterwards  demolished,  and 
a  very  large  and  imposing  building  of  brick  of  modern 
architecture  was  erected  on  the  same  site,  at  a  cost  of  fifteen 
thousand  dollars.      While  these  repairs  of  the  old  chapel 
were  progressing  the  first  story  of  the  new  philosophical 
haU  aUuded  to  above  was  used  for  a  chapel  and  house  of 


74  Moses  Waddel,  T>.  D. 

"worsliip.  This  hall  was  erected  after  Dr.  Wadders  acces- 
sion to  office.  But  when  the  old  chapel  was  fully  fitted  up 
and  furnished  with  a  cupola  for  the  bell,  it  was  used  as  the 
place  for  college  prayers  again.  The  college  bell,  previous 
to  this  arrangement,  had  been  suspended  between  two  huge 
oaks  in  front  of  the  President's  house,  which  grew  close 
enough  to  each  other  to  admit  of  placing  a  cross-axle  be- 
tween them,  on  which  the  bell  could  be  fastened,  and  near 
enough  to  the  ground  to  admit  of  being  reached  by  the  ven- 
erable colored  sexton,  old  Dick  Caiy,  as  he  was  called,  well 
described  by  Dr.  Hull  as  being  "  a  tall,  fine-looking  old 
negro,  wearing  his  white  hair  very  long — that  is  to  say,  very 
bushy.  He  was  always  well-dressed,  and  deported  himself 
as  if  he  considered  his  office  in  the  college  second  only  to. 
Dr.  "Waddel's,  and  from  no  other  would  he  take  orders." 

The  buildings  erected  on  the  campus  during  Dr.  AVaddel's 
administration  were  as  follows :  A  four-story  brick  college 
dormitory  on  the  west  side  of  the  campus,  which  was  burned 
down  in  1830,  with  the  fine  library  and  all  the  furniture 
contained  in  it,  after  his  resignation.  Halls  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  two  literary  societies  were  also  erected  by 
the  students  and  their  friends.  The  first  hall  of  the  De- 
mosthenian  Society  was  of  wooden  material,  and  was  located 
just  south  of  the  Philosophical  Hall,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
campus.  This  building  was  afterwards  sold  and  removed 
to  North  street,  where  it  was  converted  into  a  dwelling. 
This  society  then  erected  a  large  brick  hall,  two  stories  in 
height,  on  the  north  side  of  the  chapel,  which  remains  to 
this  day.  The  first  room  used  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  Phi  Kappa  Society  was  in  the  garret  of  the  old  chapel^ 
which  was  fitted  up  comfortably  and  adapted  to  the  work  of 
the  society.  This  was  not  used  very  long  ,♦  but  the  students 
of  that  society  next  built  a  hall  of  wood,  being  a  long  build- 
ing of  a  single  story  in  height,  and  was  located  just  north 
of  the  second  dormitory.     This  hall,  in  its  internal  arrange- 


The  University  of  Georgia.  75 

ment,  consisted  of  one  spacious  room  for  the  duties  of  the 
society,  with  ante-rooms  in  front,  one  of  \\"hic'h  was  used  as 
a  library.  This  building  was  afterwards  turned  over  to  the 
authorities  of  the  University,  and  used  for  a  time  as  a  reci- 
tation-room. The  society  then  had  a  fine  brick  hall  built, 
located  north  of  the  site  of  the  first  president's  house,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  campus.  This  remains  still  the  Phi-Kappa 
Hall.  The  only  additional  building  put  up  during  Dr.  Wad- 
del's  administration  was  a  two-story  framed  building  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  Grammar  School.  This  house  was 
afterwards  removed  entirely  from  the  campus,  and  a  brick 
building  erected  on  the  site,  used  for  a  library  and  other 
University  purposes.  This  house  stood  north  of  the  Demos- 
thenian  Hall,  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  campus. 

Before  leaving  the  subject  of  buildings  which  belonged  to- 
the  University  during  the  term  of  Dr  Waddel's  presidency, 
it  is  proper  to  state  that  in  1819,  except  the  house  of  the 
President,  the  Board  had  provided  no  residences  for  the 
other  members  of  the  Faculty.  When  Dr.  Church  w^as 
elected  he  at  once  proceeded  to  build  a  very  excellent  two- 
story  framed  dwelling  on  a  beautiful  and  large  lot  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  town.  Before,  however,  it  was  com- 
pleted he  accepted  a  proposition  from  Dr.  Waddel  to  ex- 
change places  with  him ;  that  is,  that  Dr.  Church  should 
sell  his  house  and  lot  to  Dr.  "Waddel  and  occupy  the  Presi- 
dent's house  as  his  residence.  Not  long  after  this  the  house 
into  which  Dr.  Church  removed  was  greatly  improved,  a 
second  story  being  added,  with  other  comfortable  arrange- 
ments. Dr.  Waddel  continued  to  reside-in  the  house  bought 
of  Dr.  Church  until  he  resigned  and  left  the  town  of  Athens. 
The  other  buildings,  now  the  property  of  the  University,  will 
be  pointed  out  in  the  narrative  as  it  progresses. 

The  condition  of  the  endowment  at  the  time  of  Dr.  Wad- 
del's election  was  about  as  follows,  according  to  the  most: 
authentic  information  accessible  :     By  an  act  of  the  Legis- 


76  Moses  Waddel,  T>.  D. 

lature  of  1815,  the  arrangement  of  the  income  from  the 
lands  of  the  University  having  j^roved  to  be  unsatisfactory, 
it  was  agreed  that  the  State  should  assume  $100,000  of  the 
amount  for  which  the  lands  had  been  sold,  on  which  eight  per 
cent,  interest  should  be  paid  to  the  trustees  for  the  support 
of  the  University.  "  This  sum  has  been  annualh'  j)aid  to  the 
institution  by  the  State  regularly  down  to  the  present  day." 
This  was  the  income  of  the  Institution  in  1819  from  public 
sources  at  the  beginning  of  Dr.  Waddel's  presidency.  There 
was  a  fee  for  tuition  charged  to  each  student,  which,  of 
course,  increased  this  amount.  But  all  other  appropria- 
tions from  the  State  were  donations  made  to  replace  losses, 
and  they  were  only  temporary,  and  after  the  year  1811, 
"until  1875,  a  period  of  thirty-four  years,  nothing  was  done 
for  the  University  by  the  State."  With  a  single  brief  ex- 
tract from  the  eulogy  of  Judge  Longstreet,  in  reference  to 
the  effect  of  Dr.  Waddel's  entrance  upon  the  office  of  the 
Presidency,  this  chapter  may  be  closed:  "  The  effect  of  his 
coming  to  this  Institution  was  magical.  It  rose  instantly  to 
a  rank  which  it  had  never  held  before,  and  which,  I  am 
happy  to  add,  it  has  maintained  ever  since." 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

Sketches  of  Dr.  AVaddel's  Colleagues  of  the  Faculty  from  1819  to 

John  E.  Goli^ing,  A.  M. 

IT  has  already  been  mentioned  that  three  Professors  were 
associated  with  Dr.  Waddel  at  the  time  of  his  election  to 
the  Presidency,  in  1819.  Of  these,  the  record  of  two  of 
them,  Dr.  Henry  Jackson  and  Mr.  John  R.  Golding,  as 
found  in  the  Centennial  Catalogue  of  the  university,  is  that 
they  were  elected  in  1811,  and  that  Professor  Golding*  re- 
signed in  1819,  and  Dr.  Jackson  resigned  in  1820.  No 
fiu'ther  mention  is  made  of  the  former,  j'et  a  brief  sketch  of 
his  life  may  not  be  without  interest,  as  he  remained  a  citizen 
of  Athens,  and  was  an  esteemed  and  intimate  friend  of  the 
President.  It  is  not  j^robable  that  lie  performed  any  active 
service  as  professor  after  Dr.  AVaddel's  accession,  but  he 
had  been  in  the  service  of  the  institution  during  Dr. 
Brown's  administration,  and  the  probability  is  that,  being 
called  to  the  same  chair  by  the  Board  on  the  reorganization, 
he  declined  the  office,  as  his  resignation  took  place  in  1819. 
Of  his  professional  career,  this  writer  is  in  jDossession  of  no 
reliable  data,  as  he  does  not  seem  to  have  been  identified 
officially  with  the  Faculty  in  1819 ;  but  in  regard  to  his 
character  and  reputation  as  a  gentleman  and  a  citizen  of 
Athens,  he  was  higlily  esteemed.  He  had  at  some  j)revious 
period  married  a  daughter  of  President  Brown,  but  at  the 
time  now  under  consideration  he  was  a  widower,  with  only 
one  child,  a  son,  who  bore  his  father's  name,  John  Reid 
Golding.  Mr.  Golding  was  a  gentleman  of  great  personal 
dignity  and  scholarly  attainments,  and  was  admired  for  his 

77 


78  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

courteous  demeanor  and  easy  address  in  intercourse  with  his 
friends  and  neighbors.  Subsequently  he  married  again, 
and  the  lady  who  became  his  second  wife  was  a  daughter  of 
Judge  Nott,  of  Columbia,  S.  C.  Kot  very  long  after  his 
second  marriage  he  died  suddenly  of  apoplexy.  Although 
not  a  colleague,  he  was  an  esteemed  and  intimate  friend  of 
Dr.  Waddel. 

Henky  Jackson,  LL.  D. 

Dr.  Henr}"  Jackson,  whose  name  is  mentioned  in  connec- 
tion with  the  foregoing  as  a  member  of  the  Faculty  in  1819, 
seems  also  to  have  held  office  with  President  Brown,  havin<( 
been  elected  Professor  of  Natural  Philosoj^hy  in  1811.  But 
referring  again  to  the  Centennial  Catalogue,  it  is  found  that 
Dr.  Jackson's  election  to  the  chair  of  Natural  Philosoj^hy 
took  j)lace  in  1822,  and  his  resignation  in  1825 ;  that  he  was 
reelected  in  1826,  serving  only  one  session,  on  account  of 
failing  health.  Dr.  Jackson  was  a  man  of  fine  traits  of 
character,  not  only  in  social  life,  but  in  every  capacity  or 
sphere  in  which  he  was  known.  He  was  a  gentleman  of 
great  scientific  attainments,  and  was  repeatedly  appointed 
to  office  in  the  service  of  the  University,  until  he  was  forced 
to  retire  from  loss  of  health.  He  had  been  associated  with 
Hon.  Wilham  H.  Crawford,  Minister  to  France  in  1813,  as 
secretary  of  legation.  After  his  resignation,  in  1827,  he  re- 
tired to  his  country  seat  near  Athens.  He  was  very  much 
beloved  and*  admired  by  the  students  who  were  his  puj^ils 
while  he  was  a  member  of  the  Faculty,  and  they  frequently 
rode  out  to  pay  their  respects  to  him  after  his  retirement, 
and  they  always  found  him  ready  to  receive  them  with  that 
true  cordiality  characteristic  of  the  perfect  gentleman  that 
he  was.  On  such  occasions  he  was  wont,  in  animated  con- 
versation, to  impart  to  them  the  rich  fruits  of  his  life  of 
study  and  experience.  His  retirement  from  the  service  of 
the  University  was  regarded  at  the  time  as  well-nigh  iiTe- 


Dr.  James  Tinsley.  79 

parable.  He  was  a  brother  of  James  Jackson,  Governor  of 
Georgia.  He  died  at  bis  country  seat  near  Athens,  leaving 
a  son,  Hon.  Henr}^  R.  Jackson,  a  citizen  of  Georgia,  distin- 
guished as  a  jurist  and  a  statesman. 

Dr.  James  Tinsley. 

This  gentleman  is  mentioned  as  having  been  elected,  in 
1820,  Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Natural  Philosophy.  The 
description  of  this  erratic  man,  as  we  find  it  in  Dr.  Hull's 
interesting  SketcJies,  to  which  the  writer  is  already  indebted 
for  passages  preceding,  will  give  a  life-like  picture  which 
many  now  living  will  at  once  recognize.  Dr.  Hull's  narra- 
tive is  as  follows : 

"Dr.  James  Tinsley,  a  native  of  Columbia  county,  Ga., 
w^as  a  cotemporary  of  Judge  Longstreet  at  Dr.  AVaddel's 
school  in  Willington,  S.  C.  He  studied  medicine  with  Dr. 
Abbot,  in  Washington,  Ga.,  and  attended  lectures  in  Phila- 
delphia, where  his  extraordinary  talents  began  to  be  devel- 
oped. He  was  a  distinguished  member  of  a  large  class, 
and  in  their  debating  clubs,  composed  of  Professors  and  stu- 
dents, attracted  the  notice  and  admiration  of  the  Professors 
of  that  celebrated  school.  He  returned  to  Washington  after 
his  graduation  and  commenced  the  practice  with  Dr.  Ab- 
bott, who  held  him  in  the  highest  estimation,  and  made 
unusual  efforts  to  introduce  him  into  his  own  extensive  prac- 
tice. But  Tinsley  was  erratic,  and  defied  the  conventional 
rules  of  practice  of  medicine  and  of  society,  and  in  a  year  oi- 
two,  in  1820,  Dr.  Abbot,  who  was  an  influential  member  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees,  j^rocured  for  him  the  Professorship) 
of  Chemistry  and  Natural  Philosophy  in  Franklin  Colleger 
(This  name  was  given  to  the  University  of  Georgia  at  the 
origin  of  the  State  system  of  education,  and  by  this  name  it 
was  known  as  generally  and  called  as  frequently  as  by  the 
name  of  "University  of  Georgia "  in  those  days.)  Dr.  Hull 
goes  on  to  say:     "He  was  totally  unqualified  for  the  chak, 


80  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

but  his  friends  thought  that  the  wonderful  power  of  his  in- 
tellect would  overcome  his  want  of  training  and  enable  him 
to  sustain  himself.  Dr.  Tinslev,  however,  could  not  endure 
the  quiet  routine  of  College  life,  and,  after  two  3'ears  of  irk- 
some restraint,  resigned."  It  is  not  necessary  to  follow  the 
career  of  this  singular  character  in  minute  detail,  and  it  may- 
be dismissed  by  simply  adding  that,  after  a  life  spent  in 
almost  every  conceivable  variety  of  pursuits,  exposing  him- 
self, "without  overcoat,  umbrella,  or  any  jn'otection  to  the 
most  inclement  weather,  with  his  shirt-collar  and  bosom 
open,  and  often  without  a  hat,"  although  "  subject  to  violent 
and  alarming  hemorrhages  from  the  lungs,"  from  being 
comfortably  wealthy  he  became  poor ;  was  a  contractor,  and 
made  brick  and  built  houses ;  practiced  medicine  and  surgery 
without  any  of  the  needful  instruments;  and  while  he 
affected  great  contempt  for  etiquette  in  his  intercourse  with 
others,  whenever  he  chose  *'  he  could  act  the  courteous  gen- 
tleman with  charming  grace."  In  Dr.  Hull's  exj)ressivQ 
words,  "thus  he  frittered  quite  away  the  richest  endow- 
ments of  intellectual  wealth,  which,  if  properly  directed, 
would  have  made  him  eminently  useful  in  his  day."  Thus 
he  lived,  and,  removing  from  Georgia  to  Alabama,  he  shortly 
afterwards  died  in  com]3arative  obscuritj^ 

Rev.  Joseph  Wallace,  A.  M. 

The  name  which  stands  next  on  the  roll  after  Professor 
Golding's,  as  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages,  is  that  of 
Kev.  Joseph  Wallace,  who  w^as  elected  to  that  chau'  in  1820. 
He  was  a  minister  of  the  Associate  Reformed  Presbytery  of 
Philadelphia,  having  taken  his  divinity  course  in  the  Theo- 
logical school  established  by  the  Rev.  John  M.  Mason  in  the 
city  of  New  York. 

The  most  obvious  feature  of  Professor  Wallace  as  a  man 
that  invariably  impressed,  not  only  strangers,  but  all  who 
knew  him  only  partiaUy,  was  his  unbending  stiffness  of  man- 


"Rev.  Joseph  Wallace,  A.  M.  81 

ner.     This  ai:)pearecl  iu  his  conversational  style,  in  his  im- 
perturbable graYitv,  in  the  absence  of  anything  hke  a  smile 
to  irradiate  his  countenance;   and  yet  the  equal  freedom 
from  every  symptom  of  passion,  or  excitement  of  ill- temper. 
There  is  no  reason  to  doubt  his  possession  of  full  cjualitica- 
tion  for  the  Professorship  he  was  called  to  fill.     Yet  there  is 
no  traditional  history  of  his  traits  as  a  scholar  or  teacher, 
either  favorable  or  unfavorable.     In  the  pulpit,  which  he  oc- 
casionally occupied,  he  carried  the  same  precise  and  lofty 
manner,  approaching  stiffness;  and  his  voico,  while  suffi- 
ciently loud  and  sonorous,  was  not  remarkable  for  its  variety, 
but  was  rather  monotonous.     While  he  remained  in  office 
he  was  unmarried,  but  becoming  acquainted  with  a  lady 
fi'om  the  lower  part  of  South  Carolina,  a  wddow  of  reputed 
wealth,  a  summer  visitor  at  Athens,  he  addressed  her  and 
they  were  married.      This  closed  his  ^professional  career, 
and  ho  left  the  University  in  1822,  and  lived  after  his  mar- 
riage on  the  fine  plantation  in  the  neighborhood  of  Beau- 
fort, S.  C,  of  which  he  became  master  by  this  marriage. 
In  1836  he  is  reported  by  Dr.  Howe  to  have  been  "received 
as  a  member  of  the  Charleston  Union  Presbytery,  and  his 
name  is  entered  on  the  Minutes  of  the  General  Assembly 
as  'W.   C  i.  e:,  without  charge.     AVhat  labors  soever  he 
may  have   performed  were  devoted  to  the  colored  people 
among  whom  he  resided."     He  died  iu  1852,  or  1853. 

It  is  noteworthy  that,  after  the  resignation  of  Professor 
Y\'allace,  in  1822,  there  is  no  record  of  any  incumbent  being 
api)ointed  to  the  chair  he  had  filled  until  1830.  This  was  not 
occasioned  by  the  fact  that  the  Ancient  Languages  had  been 
stricken  from  the  course  of  study,  but  for  some  reason  not 
now  known  the  instruction  in  the  Classics  was  placed  in  the 
hands  of  tutors,  and  a  part  of  the  duties  of  that  chair  were 
distributed  among  the  other  members  of  the  Faculty  until 
1830. 


^2  Moses  AV^ddel,  D.  D. 

Rev.  Alonzo  Church,  D.  D. 

Dr.  Church  was  elected  Professor  of  Mathematics  and 
Astronomy  in  1819,  as  ah'eady  stated,  and  began  his  con- 
nection as  Professor  with  the  University  simultaneously  with 
the  Presidency  of  Dr.  "Waddel.  He  filled  this  chair  for  ten 
years,  and  on  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Wacldel,  in  1829,  he 
was  called  immediately  to  the  vacant  Presidency.  He  pre- 
sided to  the  great  advantage  of  the  University  for  thirty 
y^ears,  and  in  1859  resigned  the  office  and  retired  to  private 
life. 

The  only  records  of  his  life  previous  to  his  entrance  upon 
the  professorship  are  drawn  from  Dr.  Howe's  History  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Sovth  Carolina,  as  found,  first,  in 
Vol.  XL,  page  309.  It  is  there  briefl}^  stated  that,  "at  a 
laeeting  of  the  Presbytery  (of  Hopewell)  in  September, 
1817,  Alonzo  Church,  a  graduate  of  Middlebury  College 
(Vermont),  was  received  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry." 
AVe  learn  from  the  same  volume,  on  page  772,  that  "he  was 
first  a  teacher  in  the  academy  at  Eatonton,"  Putnam  county, 
Ga.     He  came  from  that  place  to  the  University  at  Athens. 

The  writer  retains  a  very  distinct  recollection  of  Dr. 
Church,  as  he  was  a  student  under  his  instruction  from  1826 
to  1829.  He  was  a  tall  and  finely-proportioned  man,  grace- 
ful and  dignified  in  his  carriage,  of  dark  and  bloodless  com- 
plexion, and  of  very  black  eyes  and  hair.  His  eyes  were  re- 
markable for  then*  bright  and  piercing  lustre.  He  was 
-quick  of  temper,  and  respected  by  all  orderly  and  correct 
-students,  but  by  the  negligent  and  disorderly  he  was  feared 
and  avoided  more  than  any  other  Professor.  A  rigid  dis- 
ciplinarian, he  was  prompt  to  correct  and  rebuke  the  slight- 
est indication  of  disorder  or  inattention  in  his  class-room. 
He  acted  as  librarian  at  one  time,  and  the  library  was  then 
kept  in  the  third  story  of  the  second  dormitory.  This  room 
lie  occupied  as  his  study  during  day-time,  as  it  opened  into 
liis  class  or  lectui'e  room.     The  preservation  of  order  during 


Rev.  Alonza  Church,  D.  T>.  83 

study  hours  at  night  was  entrusted  to  tutors,  who  used 
rooms  in  the  dormitories,  both  as  studies  and  sleej)ing 
rooms.  Their  duties  were  also  aided  in  this  respect  by  pro- 
fessors in  davhght. 

An  incident  that  occurred  during  the  attendance  of  the 
writer  as  a  student  will  illustrate  the  promptness  of  Dr. 
Church  in  queUing  disorder,  and  the  fear  always  excited 
among  the  students  by  any  manifestation  of  his  displeasui'e. 
A  glance  at  his  domestic  history  will  enable  the  reader  more 
properly  to  appreciate  the  circumstances  of  the  case.  The 
Doctor  was  the  father  of  four  daughters  before  a  son  was 
born  to  him.  On  the  news  of  the  birth  of  this  son  being- 
learned  by  the  students,  it  was  suggested  at  once  that  a  pe- 
tition should  be  presented  to  the  Faculty  for  holiday  in  com- 
pliment to  the  family,  and  as  a  welcome  to  the  advent  of 
the  vouno-  stran^-er.  Just  before  eleven  o'clock  a.  m.,  which 
was  the  hour  for  recitation,  the  petition  was  returned,  hav- 
ing been  granted.  It  so  hapi^ened  that  just  then,  in  the 
fourth  storj'  of  the  dormitory,  were  gathered  in  the  room 
just  above  Dr.  Church's  study  some  half-dozen  of  the  most 
orderly  students,  j)rei:)ariDg  for  recitation.  On  the  presen- 
tation to  them  of  the  decision  of  the  Faculty,  it  was  received 
by  a  most  boisterous  shouting  and  laughter  and  stamping 
upon  the  floor  as  a  manifestation  of  the  exuberance  of  their 
joy.  In  a  very  few  minutes,  to  our  utter  amazement  and 
fright.  Dr.  Chm-ch  made  his  appearance,  and,  when  the 
door  was  opened  and  he  discovered  that  the  actors  were 
students  of  the  most  orderly  character,  he  lifted  his  hands 
and  exclaimed:  ''Why,  gentlemen,  I  am  more  than  aston- 
ished!" The  students  had  only  time  to  say  to  him,  "Doc- 
tor, we  have  holiday,"  when  he  left  them  abrux^tly,  and  tbey 
began  to  suspect  that  they  had  been  "badly  sold,"  and  that 
there  was  no  holiday,  as  Dr.  Church  seemed  not  to  be  aware 
of  it.  They  anticipated  nothing  less  than  a  summons  be- 
fore the  Faculty  upon  a  charge  of  disorderly  conduct,  but 


84  .  Moses  T^'addel,  D.  D. 

this  suspense  was  soon  ended,  as  Dr.  Church,  after  leaving 
the  room,  encountered  a  student,  and  on  inquiring  the  rea- 
son of  the  hohday,  and  learning  that  it  T^-as  on  the  occasion 
of  the  birth  of  his  son,  returned  immediately,  explained,  and 
apologized.  So  all  ended  happily,  and  Alonzo  Church,  Jr., 
on  his  arrival,  was  greeted  with  p^  demonstration  not  usually 
bestowed  upon  our  boys 

The  pulpit  talents  of  Dr.  Chiu'ch  were  held  in  high  esti- 
mation by  some  who  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  his  ministra- 
tions. He  occasionally  filled  the  j^ulpit  in  Athens,  but  he 
performed  a  great  deal  of  missionary  and  evangelistic  preach- 
ing for  country  churches  and  congregations  in  reach  of 
Athens.  It  is  a  noble  tribute  to  his  memory  which  is  found 
in  a  memorial  adopted  by  the  Synod  of  Georgia,  and  re- 
corded in  the  Minutes  of  1870,  page  6:  "It  was  his  dehght 
and  glory  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  poor,  nor  did  he  cease 
to  do  this  to  the  day  of  his  death." 

Gamaliel  S.  Olds,  A.  M. 

This  gentleman  was  appointed  Professor  of  Natural  Phil- 
osoj^hy  in  1825,  after  Dr.  Henry  Jackson's  first  retirement. 
He  resigned  in  1826,  and  as  he  served  but  one  session,  there 
is  nothing  of  interest  on  record  of  his  talents,  qualities,  or 
his  success.  His  name  may,  therefore,  be  dismissed,  with 
the  single  remark  that  lie  possessed  no  traits  of  practical 
usefulness,  and  that  his  term  of  service  furnishes  nothing 
affecting  the  history  of  the  University,  whether  for  good  or 
evil. 

Peofessoe  Jatvies  Jackson,  A.  M. 
The  next  full  Professor  who  was  a  colleague  of  Dr.  Wad- 
del  was  James  Jackson,  A.  M.  He  was  elected  to  the  chair 
of  Chemistrv^  in  1823,  and  on  the  retirement  of  his  uncle. 
Dr.  Heniy  Jackson,  in  1827,  he  succeeded  him  as  Professor 
of  Natural  Philosophy.     Taking  the  two  chairs  together,  his 


Kev.  Stephen  Oi.in,  I>-  I>- 


85 


term  of  service  continued  through  the  Presidency  of  Dr. 
Waddel;  but  in  1842  he  was  relieved  of  the  duties  of  the 
chair  of  >-atural  Philosophy,  after  serving  fifteen  years  in 
it,  bv  the  election  of  Dr.  C.  F.  McCay.     After  «"«  change 
he  Continued  to  fill  the  chair  of  Chemistry,  &c.,  until  I80O, 
when,  after  twentv-three  years  of  laborious  vvoA,  he  re- 
sicvned,  and  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  W.  L.  Jones.     Professor 
JaAson  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  attainments  in 
manr  departments  of  literature  and  science.     He  insa-uctecl 
the  classes  for  some  years  in  Latin  and  in  French.    He  was 
a  son  of  Governor  James  Jackson,  and  a  nephew  ot  Dr. 
Henrv  Jackson.     He  was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church 
in  Athens,  and  had  a  most  interesting  family.     During  his 
residence  in  Athens  he  was  subject  to  periodical  attacks  ot 
sick  headache,  which  interfered  not  a  little  with  his  attend- 
ance on  class  exercises.     At  the  time  of  these  attacks  he 
suftered  too  intensely  to  admit  of  his  leaving  his  room.     He 
was  a  man  of  irreproachable  character,  and  his  long  seijice 
of  twentv.three  rears  in  various  departments  is  of  itselt  an 
evidence  of  his  merit  and  a  testimonial  of  the  high  estima- 
tion in  which  he  was  held  by  the  Board. 

Rev.  Stephek  Olis,  D.  D. 
This  eminent  man  and  minister  of  the  gospel  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  a  native  of  >  ermont,  and 
graduated  at  iliddebury  College,  in  that  State,  m  1820  He 
was  a  teacher  first  in  South  Carolina,  and  there  pined  the 
Conference,  and  was  stationed  for  two  years  in  Charleston. 
In  1826  he  was  elected  to  the  chair  of  Ethics  and  Meta- 
phvsics  in  the  I'niversity  of  Georgia,  and  in  1828  resigned 
in  "conseciuence  of  ill-health.  He  was  v.  very  remarkable 
man  in  manv  respects.  Of  extraordinary  physica  size,  not 
fleshv,  but  taU,  and  broad  and  muscular,  of  large  head,  and 
countenance  indicative  of  detei-mined  will,  one  would  judge, 
from  his  appearance,  that  when  in  health  he  must  have  pos- 


86  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

sessed  very  great  physical  power.  As  a  Professor,  lie  was 
unsurpassed  in  the  power  of  imparting  knowledge  and  of 
exerting  an  influence  over  students.  It  was  considered  a 
great  privilege  to  "  sit  at  his  feet "  as  a  teacher  and  to  have 
been  numbered  among  his  pupils.  As  a  preacher,  he  was 
grand  in  thought  and  eloquent  in  dehvery,  and  held  his  au- 
dience rapt  in  admiration  and  transported  by  his  eloquence. 
His  health  w^as  very  precaiious,  and  he  resigned  in  1828, 
after  two  years'  service.  He  was  recalled  in  1831,  and 
served  a  second  term  of  two  years.  After  his  resignation, 
in  1833,  he  accepted  the  Presidency  of  Eandolph-Macon 
College,  in  Virginia.  He  travelled  subsequently  for  some 
time  in  Europe,  Egypt,  and  Palestine,  and  his  travels  were 
published  in  two  volumes.  In  1842  he  was  made  President 
of  Wesleyan  University,  at  Middletown,  Conn.,  and  remained 
in  that  office  until  his  death. 

The  remaining  members  of  the  faculty  of  this  period, 
from  1819  to  1829,  were  eight  in  number,  and  the  term  of 
service  of  these,  who  were  tutors,  varied  from  one  to  five 
years,  only  one  of  whom  served  as  long  as  five  j^ears.  Of 
the  first,  J.  J.  Kilpatrick,  so  little  is  known  as  to  require 
only  that  he  should  be  named  as  holding  the  office  one  year. 
The  same  may  be  said  of  C.  D.  Davis. 

Rev.  Alexander  H.  Webster,  A.  M. 

"With  regard  to  the  gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the 
head  of  this  paragraph  a  much  more  interesting  sketch  should 
be  written.  He  was  an  earnest  and  devoted  Christian 
teacher  during  his  term  of  service  in  the  University,  and  en- 
joyed the  unqualified  friendship  of  Dr.  Waddel  and  of  Dr. 
Church.  He  retired,  at  the  close  of  his  tutorship  of  two  years, 
in  1823,  and  located  himself  in  Washington,  Ga.,  w^here  he 
had  charge  of  the  church  and  academy  until  his  death,  in 
1828. 


Pkof.  James  P.  Waddel,  A.  M.  87 

In  addition  to  his  many  claimn  to  high  esteem  and  grati- 
tude from  the  State  for  his  pubUc  services,  Mr.  Webster  de- 
serves the  credit  of  being  mainly  instrumental  in  securing 
for  Alexander  Stevens  the  academic  and  collegiate  education 
which  fitted  that  noble  Christian  statesman  for  the  great 
services  he  afterwards  rendered  to  his  native  State  and  to 
the  whole  government.  The  exceedingly  interesting  ac- 
count of  the  whole  transaction  is  recorded  in  the  JJfe  of  A^ 
II.  Stephens,  by  Johnston  cSc  Brown,  on  pages  47-51. 

James  P.  Waddel,  A.  M. 
As  this  gentleman  occupied  the  tutorship  only  two  years, 
and  subsequently  filled  the  chair  of  Ancient  Languages  in 
the  Uni^^'ersity  for  a  term  of  twenty  j^ears,  it  is  only  neces- 
sary to  say  that  when  he  resigned,  in  1824,  he  left  the  Uni- 
versity with  an  exalted  reputation  as  a  scholar  and  teacher, 
and  retired  to  prosecute  his  career  as  an  educator  in  several 
prominent  places,  among  which  were  the  Richmond  Acad- 
emy, in  Augusta,  Ga.,  which  he  occupied  for  six  years,  and 
at  Wilhngton,  S.  C,  where  he  revived  the  academy  founded 
by  his  father.  There  he  remained  until  1836,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Athens  and  became  Professor  of  Ancient  Lan- 
guages. Before  his  settlement  in  Athens  in  connection 
with  the  University  he  had  been  elected  to  the  same  chair  in. 
the  year  1830  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  trustees  of  th& 
University  in  August.  It  was  then  the  j)rovision  of  the  act 
by  which  the  University  was  originally  established,  in  1785, 
that  "the  general  superintendence  and  regulation  of  the 
hterature  of  the  State  should  be  confided  to  two  bodies — one 
consisting  of  the  Governor  and  Council,  the  Speaker  of  the 
house  of  assembly,  and  the  Chief  Justice,  and  the  other  con- 
sisting of  thirteen  persons,  to  be  called  "the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees." These  two  bodies,  united,  were  to  constitute  the 
"Senatus  Academicus  of  the  University  of  Georgia."  This 
"Senatus  Academicus"  was  in  existence  in  1830,  but  was 


88  Moses  AVaddel,  D.  D. 

abolished  December  14,  1850.     it  ^vas  about  the  rear  1<^30 
that  considerable  excitement  prevailed  tbrou^hoiit  the  State 
among  the  various  denominations  of  the  Christian  church 
upon  the  subject  of  education.'    Among  other  feelings  that 
were  developed  was  that  of  a  jealousy  of  the  Universit}',  upon 
the  ground  that  there  seemed  to  have  been  a  monopoly  of 
the  offices  in  the  Faculty  enjoyed  by  one  denomination  to  too 
large  an  extent.     The  fact  was  that  the  administration  of 
the  external  and  internal  affairs  of  the  University  had  been 
in  the  hands  of  Presb3i;erian  Presidents  from  its  organiza- 
tion in  1801,  as  a  school  of  the  higher  learning,  to  the  time 
of  this  election  of  James  P.  Waddel,  in  1830 ;  and  it  may  be 
added,  that  Presbyterian  Presidency  continued   to  be  the 
order  of  affairs  for  twenty-nine  years  longer.     The  trustees 
bad  not  excluded  any  gentleman  and  scholar  from  a  Profes- 
sorship in  this  long  period,  but  there  had  been  incumbents 
of  the  subordinate  olnces  from  the  other  churches  whenever 
the  trustees  were  convinced  of  the  fact  that  a  candidate 
possessed  the  .requisite  qualifications.     It  is  certainly  not  to 
be  attributed  to  am'  partiality  on  the  part  of  the  Board  that 
Presbyterians  had  been  invariably  appointed  to  the  Presi- 
dency for  fifty -nine  years.     But  on  the  election  of  Professor 
Waddel,  in  1830,  great  dissatisfaction  was  found  to  exist, 
and  was  made  knov/n  through  the  journals  of  the  State  on 
the  subject  of  the  appointment  of  another  Presbyterian. 
The  ground  of  complaint  was  based  upon  the  fact  that  the 
University  was  a  State  institution,  the  j^roperty  of  the  State, 
and  hence  all  classes  of  the  j^eo^Dle  were  entitled  justly  to  a 
rei^resentation  in  its  management.     The  excitement  grew  in 
intensity,  until,  at  the  meeting  of  the  Senatus  Academicus, 
in  December,  1830,  at  the  seat  of  government,  the  action  of 
the  trustees  at  their  meeting  in  August  preceding  was  re- 
viewed and  reconsidered,  and,  to  allay  the  dissatisfaction  of 
the  malcontent  denomination,  Professor  AVaddel  (who  had 
not  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  chair  to  which  he  had 


James  P.  Waddel,  A.  M.  89 

been  elected)  was  suiDerseded  bv  the  appointmeut  of  the 
Eev.  James  Shannon,  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  in 
Augusta,  Ga.  This  gentleman  held  the  office  until  1835, 
and  resigned  to  accept  the  Presidency  of  the  Missouri  Uni- 
versity, and  not  long  thereafter  he  left  the  Baptist  church 
and  entered  the  Christian  (Campbellite)  church,  and  died 
not  long  after  he  had  vacated  the  Presidency  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Missouri. 

On  the  retirement  of  Professor  Shannon  from  the  chair 
of  Ancient  Languages  in  the  Georgia  University,  in  1835, 
the  Board  of  Trustees  called  Professor  AVaddel  to  the  vacnr/. 
chair,  in  1836,  which  he  filled  with  entire  acceptance  f(jr 
tw^enty  years.  In  1856  a  state  of  dissatisfaction  occurred 
in  the  Faculty,  and  it  became  necessary  for  him  and  a  large 
number  of  his  colleagues  to  resign,  in  order  that  the  Board 
might  reorganize  the  Faculty  and  secure  harmony.  It  is 
unnecessary  to  explain  this  state  of  things,  but  it  was  not 
the  result  of  any  deficiency  on  his  part,  or  on  that  of  the 
others  who  were  with  him,  either  as  gentlemen  or  scholars. 
But  it  was  in  consequence  of  serious  differences  of  judgment 
on  the  part  of  these  professors  as  regarded  ''the  government 
of  young  men  and  the  standard  of  attainment  for  gradua- 
tion." Professor  "Waddel  then  removed  from  Athens  to 
Montgomery,  Ala.,  where  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  a  se- 
lect class  of  young  men  at  high  comi^ensation  until  the  war 
began.  He  had  found  his  health  on  the  decline,  and  had 
resolved  that  he  must  abandon  teaching.  He  was  then  in- 
vited by  Governor  Moore,  of  Alabama,  to  accept  the  position 
of  Secretary  in  the  Governor's  office,  and  on  the  election  to 
the  office  of  Governor  of  John  Gill  Shorter  (a  favorite  pu^Dil 
of  his),  he  was  called  to  the  same  office,  and  subsecjuently 
he  filled  the  same  office  under  Governor  Watts.  This  was 
the  last  service  he  was  ever  to  perform  of  a  pubhc  natui'e. 
At  the  close  of  the  war,  in  feeble  health,  he  returned  to 
Athens,  and  ended  his  days  in  the  house  of  his  son,  AVilham 


90  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

Henry  Waddel,  who  had  filled  the  chair  of  Languages  from 
1860  in  the  University  of  Georgia  under  the  Presidency  of 
Chancellor  Lipscombe.  He  died  of  i^aralysis  on  May  27, 
1868,  after  having  been  a  laborious  and  accomplished 
teacher  for  forty-one  years,  aged  sixty-seven  years  five 
months  and  twenty-one  days. 

I  think  it  •will  be  not  "without  interest  to  his  former  pupils, 
some  of  whom  still  survive  him,  to  read  the  subjoined  testi- 
monial, furnished  by  my  friend  and  former  colleague,  Pro- 
fessor John  K.  Blake,  at  La  Grange,  Tenn.  Professor 
Blake  was  a  member  of  the  class  of  1846,  and  graduated 
with  hif^h  distinction.  He  has  filled  several  chairs  in  the 
educational  institutions  of  the  South. 

''Recollections  of  Professor  James  P.  Waddel. 

"  I  recall  with  much  pleasure  the  kind  and  sympathetic 
nature,  cordial  manner,  and  high-toned  Christian  bearing  of 
my  friend.  Professor  James  P.  Waddel,  while  I  w^as  his 
pupil  at  Athens,  Ga.  In  the  class-room  and  out  of  it  he 
always  greeted  his  students  with  a  genial  recognition  which 
invited  confidence  and  secured  esteem  from  every  generous 
heart.  As  a  teacher,  he  exhibited  classic  taste  and  accurate 
scholarship.  There  was  also  a  poetic  vein  in  his  mental 
composition  which  gave  to  his  rendition  of  Greek  and  Ro- 
man authors  an  elegance  peculiar  to  himself.  To  his  pupils 
he  allowed  much  liberty  in  their  translations,  giving  the 
freest  scope  to  the  indi^'iduality  of  each,  that  every  one 
might  develoj)  the  most  natm-al  and  easy  foritis  of  thought 
and  expression,  reserving  to  himself  the  duty  of  retouching 
those  forms  when  the  work  was  finished. 

"As  a  disciplinarian.  Professor  Waddel  relied  mainly 
upon  the  gentlemanly  instincts  of  his  pupils.  He  was  always 
kind  and  courteous  in  his  bearing  tow^ards  them,  and  by  his 
own  scrupulous  politeness  compelled  respect  from  all  w^ho 
had  any  proper  appreciation  of  moral  excellence.     When 


Eey.  James  C.  Patterson,  D.  T>.  91 

occasion  offered,  however,  he  could  rebuke  with  teUing  effect, 

while  still  maintaining  a  courtly  dignity  of  demeanor 

On  one  occasion  some  unknown  hand  had  cast  a  handful  of 
shot  into  the  room  as  the  class  was  entering.  The  Professor 
remained  silent  for  a  moment,  then,  looking  round  upon  the 
rear  of  the  entering  class,  he  broke  forth  in  withering  sar- 
casm upon  the  unknown  offender,  pointing  out  how  far  he 
had  forgotten  the  courtesy  due  from  gentlemen  and  the 
chivahy  to  be  expected  from  Southern  young  men.  The 
offence  was  never  repeated,  nor  could  I  ever  find  one  bold 
enough  to  confess  the  authorship  of  the  deed." 

Rev.  James  C.  Patterson,  D.  T>. 

This  gentleman  was  appointed  tutor  in  1823,  one  year 
after  his  graduation,  and  resigned,  after  a  service  of  two- 
years,  in  1825.  He  was  a  solid  and  substantial  characterj 
an  excellent  scholar,  with  more  reality  in  his  merit  than 
many  who  made  more  showy  appearances.  He  succeeded 
afterwards  Rev,  Joseph  C  Stiles  as  supply  of  the  church 
in  Macon,  Ga.,  in  1828,  w^hen  that  church  was  in  its  infancy. 
He  continued  to  servo  that  people  as  their  minister  "  for  a 
period  of  three  years,  much  interrupted  by  ill-health.  He 
died  on  July  18,  1866,  in  the  sixty-third  j^ear  of  his  age." 

Of  Ephraim  S.  Hopping  it  may  be  said  that  he  filled  the 
office  of  tutor  for  three  years,  from  1824  to  1827,  giving  en- 
tire satisfaction  to  all  concerned;  was  licensed  to  preach, 
but  was  never  ordained.  On  his  resignation,  he  soon  after 
married  a  lady  of  wealth  and  refinement,  and  became  a 
planter.  He  was  a  most  genial  and  kind-hearted  gentle- 
man, and  was  beloved  and  resj^ected  by  the  students.  He 
was  a  graduate  of  Princeton  College,  N.  J.,  and  was  a  fine 
classical  scholar.  He  died  of  a  painful  affection  of  his  head 
and  face,  but  it  is  not  known  in  what  vear  he  died. 


CHAPTEE   XIY. 

Unitersity  Administration  During  Dr.  Waddel's  Presidency.  —  His 
Life  in  Athens  — His  Services  to  the  Cause  of  Christian  Edu- 
cation. 

THE  sketches  of  Dr.  Waddel's  colleagues  being  closed, 
the  narrative  will  now  return  to  the  more  special  record 
of  his  personal  history.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  his 
views  and  practice  upon  the  subject  of  discipline  were,  even 
in  his  day,  not  in  perfect  accord  with  those  prevalent  in 
many  parts  of  the  country.  Having  been  for  so  many  years 
independent  of  all  outside  control  or  dictation  as  to  the 
management  of  his  academy,  and  never  having  been  accus- 
tomed to  seek  counsel  of  man,  he  naturally  felt  that  he  him- 
self was  responsible  for  the  administration  of  the  affairs,  ex- 
ternal and  internal,  of  the  University  to  the  best  advantage. 
Having  been  so  successful  in  his  preceding  years  as  a  dis- 
ciplinarian, and  as  he  had  abimdant  testimony,  voluntarily 
furnished  by  his  former  patrons  and  pupils,  that  his  mode 
of  government  had  proved  to  be  eminently  satisfactory,  he 
perhaps  anticipated  that  the  management  required  in  the 
University  would  partake  of  the  same  essential  features  by 
which  his  former  administration  had  been  characterized. 
Finding  himself  surrounded  by  various  influences,  and  that 
there  were  others  who  must,  in  a  measure,  control  affairs  in 
the  University,  and  that  to  them  he  should  be  held  respon- 
sible, he  very  readily  adopted  and  put  into  practice  many 
modifications  of  the  system  to  which  he  had  formerly  been 
accustomed.  The  consequence  was  that  the  term  of  his 
Presidential  rule  was  eminently  successful.  The  statement 
that  he  believed  in  and  practiced  corporal  'punishment  for 

92 


College  Discipline.  9^ 

Colleo-e  students  is  a  mishike.  This  idea  ^vas,  on  one  occa- 
sion  suo-ested  by  a  most  excellent  trustee,  of  old-fashioned 
views  that  "boys  of  the  Freshman  class  who  needed  pim- 
ishment  ought  to  be  whipped."  Bat  that  such  a  proposi- 
tion  ever  proceeded  from  I>r.  Waddel,  or  that  such  a  mode 
of  correction  was  ever  put  into  execution  as  regards  Tniver- 
sity  students,  cannot  be  shown.  The  basis  for  the  erroneous 
statement  is  a  single  entry  in  Dr.  Waddel's  diary,  still  ex- 
tant, as  follows:    "Caught  •  chewing  tobacco,   and 

whipped  him."  The  explanation  of  this  entry  is  that  some 
old  friends  and  pupils  had  prevailed  upon  Dr.  Waddel  to 
receive  into  his  family  their  sons,  young  lads,  to  be  trained 
exactly  as  his  own  children.  These  boys  never  entered  col- 
lege while  with  him;  and  so  he  did  train  them,  controUing 
and  correcting  them  when  necessary,  as  any  sons  of  his  own 
would  have  been  treated. 

One  other  fact  may  be  mentioned  as  showing  the  mis- 
taken views  entertamed  by  some  in  regard  to  coUege  dis- 
cipline.    One  of  the  trustees,  not  a  resident  of  Athens,  be- 
came greatlv  offended  by  receiving  an  anonymous  letter 
from  some  one,  supposed  to  be  a  student,  who  ridiculed  and 
insulted  him  in  the  communication.     Charging  it  as  a  gross 
offence,  and  considering  it  the  duty  of  the  President  to  arrest 
and  punish  the  offender,  when  it  could  not  be  ascertained 
who  the  writer  was,  he  visited  his  wrath  upon  the  President 
and  Facultv,  and  if  he  had  been  a  man  of  influence  he  might 
have   effected   some  evil  result.     But  it  all  passed  off  m 
smoke,  and  nothing  ever  came  of  the  matter,  as  it  was  im- 
possible to  institute  any  proceedings  that  would  lead  to  a 
detection  of  the  author  of  the  quiz.     Just  at  this  point  it  is 
appropriate   to  introduce   the   following   estimates  of   Dr. 
AYaddel  as  a  disciplinarian,  as  they  have  both  been  pub- 
Hshed,  as  the  unbiased  judgment  of  two  high-toned  gentle- 
men intimately   acquainted  with  him,   and  fellow-citizens 
thoroughly  cognizant  of  his  whole  career  at  Athens.     The 


94  Moses  AVaddel,  D.  D. 

first  of  these  testimonials  is  from  Dr.  Hull's  Sketches  of 
Athens,  to  which  reference  has  already  been  made.  Says 
he:  "His  administration  of  the  University  was  singularly 
successful.  From  the  handful  of  students  he  found  (mus- 
tering seven  students  at  full  roll-call),  the  attendance  in- 
creased to  one  hundred  or  more,  and  for  ten  years,  with 
wise  counsel  and  inflexible  disci]3line,  he  kept  the  Institution 
ever  advancing."  So  Dr.  Church,  who  was  his  associate  in 
the  Faculty  and  his  intimate  friend  for  ten  3^ears,  thus  writes 
of  him  in  this  particular  in  a  letter  found  in  the  Annals  of 
the  American  Pulpit,  by  Dr.  Sprague,  Vol.  IV.,  pp.  68  and 
70:  "Dr.  "VVaddel  was,  in  the  estimation  of  some,  a  stern 
disciplinarian,  and  yet  no  man  was  more  mild  or  conciliatory 
toward  those  who  were  disposed  to  do  their  duty,  and  no 
one  was  ever  more  ready  to  aid  his  pupils  in  their  efforts  to 
acquire  knowledge.  His  study  was  at  all  times  open  to 
those  seeking  assistance,  and  he  would  lay  aside  the  most 
interesting  and  important  business  to  answer  the  inquiries 
of  a  student."  In  another  place  Dr.  Church  sx)eaks  of  him 
thuo :  "  The  circumstances  of  the  university  were,  when  Dr. 
AVaddel  was  called  to  preside  over  it,  peculiarly  embarrass- 
ing. They  were  such  as  no  one  can  full}'  comprehend  who 
was  not  connected  with  it ;  they  were  such,  I  am  fully  per- 
suaded, as  few  men  would  have  been  able  to  meet,  without 
"ultimately  abandoning  it  in  despair.  And  to  the  wisdom 
and  prudence  and  reputation  of  that  good  man  is  Georgia 
very  largely  indebted  for  the  respectabilit}''  and  usefulness 
of  her  State  College.  The  success  which  attended  his  efforts 
in  raising  the  Institution  so  rapidly  as  he  did  to  respect- 
ability has  been  to  many  inexphcable;  but  to  those  who 
well  understood  his  character,  the  success  is  by  no  means 
surprising."  Of  the  Board  of  Trustees  in  office  during  his 
Presidency,  numbering  thirty  or  more,  there  were  some  very 
distinguished  men  of  the  State,  such  as  William  H.  Craw- 
ford,   George   R.    Gilmer,    John   M.    Berrien,    George    M. 


Influencing  Students  for  the  Ministry.  95 

Troup,  Thomas  "W.  Cobb,  and  Daucau  G.  Campbell,  some 
of  whom  were  old  pupils,  but  none  of  them  residents  of 
Athens.  There  were,  however,  three  members  of  the  Board 
who  were  citizens  of  Athens,  with  whom  he  was  associated 
on  terms  of  warm  and  intimate  friendship  and  unreserved 
confidence.  These  were  Hon.  Augustine  S.  Clayton,  Dr. 
James  Kisbet,  and  Dr.  Henry  Hull.  They  were  all  promi- 
nent in  the  town  b}^  reason  of  their  intelligence  and  high 
social  position.  Tliey  were  the  esteemed  counsellors  of  Dr. 
Waddel  on  all  subjects  which  involved  the  interests  of  the 
University.  At  the  time  of  his  removal  to  Athens  the  only 
place  of  public  worship  was  the  old  chapel,  and  afterwards 
the  Philosophical  Hall.  The  Presbyterian  church  was  or- 
ganized by  Dr.  AVaddel  March  4,  1821,  with  fourteen  mem- 
bers, and  afterwards  the  congregation  erected  a  very  excel- 
lent framed  house  of  worship,  then  considered  quite  a  fine- 
looking  building.  It  was  located  on  the  north  side  of  the 
University  campus,  on  the  main  street  of  the  town.  He 
served  this  church  as  stated  supply  for  nearly  ten  years,  and 
after  his  removal  the  church  called  to  the  pastorate  Eev. 
Dr.  Nathan  Hoyt,  who  served  the  people  for  thu'ty-seven 
years. 

A  prominent  trait  of  Dr.  Waddel,  as  an  educator,  known 
to  his  intimate  friends,  was  his  persistent  determination  to 
give  to  all  his  educational  system  an  impression  of  Chris- 
tian character.  On  this  subject  the  writer  prefers,  for  ob- 
vious reasons,  to  avail  himself  of  the  letter  of  Dr.  Church, 
not  only  as  that  of  one  whose  testimony  cannot  be  biased  by 
the  partiality  of  a  kinsman,  but  as  of  one  abundantly  fitted 
by  long  association  with  Dr.  Waddel  to  furnish  a  correct  re- 
cord of  his  peculiarities: 

"The  grand  object,"  says  Dr.  C,  "which  he  had  in  view 
while  engaged  in  the  business  of  instruction  was  the  incul- 
cation of  truth,  which,  directly  or  indirectly,  would  have  an 
influence  upon  the  great  cause  of  the  gospel.     The  country 


9G  Moses  ^Vaddel,  D.  D. 

"was  new,  the  population  was  rapidly  increasing,  and  the  few 
schools  then  existing  were  almost  universally  imder  the  con- 
trol of  men  who  were  ignorant  and  vicious,  and  often  infidel. 
Dr.  "Waddel  saw  the  necessity  for  different  schools,  and  re- 
solved that,  by  the  blessing  of  God  upon  his  labors,  he 
would  endeavor  to  show  the  practical  benefits  resulting  from 
those  conducted  by  well-educated  and  pious  men.  To  ac- 
comphsh  this  reformation,  he  saw  the  necessity  of  teachers 
educated  at  home,  educated  in  the  fear  of  God,  teachers 
who  would  carry  into  the  school-room  something  of  the 
Bible.  He  accordingly  encouraged  those  who  w^ere  under 
his  instruction,  and  especialty  those  who  were  pious,  to  -pve- 
pare  themselves  for  teachers.  To  those  who  were  unable  to 
bear  the  expense  of  their  education  he  opened  the  doors  of 
his  school,  and  often  of  his  house,  leaving  them  in  after  life 
to  make  such  return  as  they  might  be  able  and  might  think 
proj^er  to  make.  The  heart  of  this  good  man  also  yearned 
over  the  multitudes  in  the  adjacent  regions  who  were  'as 
sheep  having  no  shepherd.'  He  ardently  desired  to  see  in- 
telligent and  pious  3'oung  men  consecrating  their  talents  to 
the  service  of  God  in  the  ministry  of  the  gospel.  His  school 
was,  therefore,  always  'a  school  of  the  prophets.'  Every 
encouragement  was  given  by  him  to  those  whose  minds  were 
turned  to  this  subject;  and,  by  dii'ecting  his  pupils  to  the 
great  want  of  ministers,  he  was  instrumental  in  diverting 
many  from  mere  secular  pursuits  to  the  sacred  office.  In 
this  respect,  I  apprehend,  few  men  have  been  more  useful 
to  the  church.  Like  his  divine  Master,  he  was  continually 
saying  to  many,  and  apparent^  with  effect,  '  Go  preach  the 
gospel.'  Looking  at  the  condition  of  the  country,  and  espe- 
cially of  the  church,  he  believed  that  it  was  the  duty  of 
many  who  were  called  to  the  ministry  to  engage  also  in  the 
business  of  instruction,  and  he  accordingly  encouraged 
many  of  the  young  men  who  studied  with  him  to  pursue  a 
course  which  he  had  felt  it  his  duty  to  pui'sue.     By  this 


Determination  to  Preach.  97 

means  iu  a  short  time  many  feeble  churches  were  partially 
supplied  with  Christian  ministrations,  and  a  striking  change 
was  wrought  in  the  aspect  of  society." 

It  should  not  be  forgotten,  as  has  been  already  recorded 
of  Dr.  Waddel,  that  he  was  not  only  a  life-long  laborer  iu 
the  field  of  practical  education  in  the  class-room,  but  the 
fact,  not  so  well  kno\An  to  many,  is  that  he  remained  through 
all  his  days,  until  laid  aside  in  the  providence  of  God  by 
disease,  a  laborious  and  devoted  minister  of  the  gospel.  Ifc 
was  a  rare  occurrence  that  prevented  him  from  filling  the 
pulpit  wherever  he  made  his  home.  In  yielding,  as  he  did, 
to  the  pressing  call  of  the  Trustees  to  the  Presidency  of  the 
institution,  it  formed  only  a  part  of  the  influential  reasons 
that  prevailed  with  him  that  the  University  should  be  raised 
"to  literary  eminence."  It  ought  to  be  stated  that  he  never 
entered  upon  any  enterprise  to  which  he  was  invited  with- 
out asking  of  Divine  AYisdom  to  make  the  path  of  duty 
plain  before  him.  The  motive  which  weighed  more  heavily 
with  him,  inducing  him  to  accept  the  call,  was  undoubtedly 
a  conviction  that  in  the  near  future  there  seemed  to  be 
opened  before  him  a  new  field  of  that  kind  of  labor  that  la}'' 
nearest  his  heart,  and  in  which  he  always  most  delighted. 
Nor  is  it  at  all  probable  that  he  would  for  a  moment  have  en- 
tertained the  proposition  to  remove  to  Athens  had  no  door 
of  entrance  been  open  before  him  to  preach  the  gospeL 
But  although  a  State  Institution,  the  common  property  of 
all  the  citizens  of  Georgia,  it  is  a  blessed  fact  in  the  history 
of  the  University  that  no  influence  was  ever  attempted  from, 
any  quarter  to  prevent  the  Faculty  from  preaching.  This 
fact,  to  the  honor  and  credit  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  should 
be  recorded,  and  may  be  regarded  as  in  striking  and  grati- 
fying contrast  to  the  course  pursued  by  other  bodies  of  j^ub- 
lic  trust  having  in  charge  the  interest  of  State  Institutions 
of  learning.  He  not  only  preached  in  person  in  Athens  in 
the  chapel,  but  he  was  careful  to  avail  himself  of  the  ser- 


^8  Moses  AVaddel,  D.  D. 

\dces  of   his   brethren   whenever  they  could  be  obtained. 
There  occuiTed  within  the  memory  of  hving  alumni  even 
now  several  remarkable  revivals  of  religion,  in  the  blessed 
influences  of  which  the  students  of  the  University  largely 
shared.     Such,  if  called  on  to  testify,  might  revive  even  now, 
after  the  lapse  of  a  half  century,  the  recollection  of  a  great 
"work  of  grace  that  was  enjoyed  by  the  town  and  University 
under  the  powerful  preaching  of  such  consecrated  men  as 
Eev.  Joseph  C.  Stiles,  Eev.  S.  S.  Davis,  Rev.  A.  H.  AVebster, 
and  others,  who  were  invited  to  come  and  spend  a  season  of 
pulpit  labor  in  Athens.     During  his  Presidency  in  Athens 
the  prosperity  of  the  University  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  entire  State,  and  the  population  of  the  town  rapidly  in- 
creased by  the  removal  of  many  to  secure  for  their  sons  the 
advantages  of  a  classical  education,  and  the  active  business 
of  the  community  in  evevy  department  grew  and  extended 
to  a  considerable  degree.     The  consequence  was  that  all  de- 
nominations of  Christians  were  soon  enabled  to  organize 
their  peoj^le  into  churches,  and  to  erect  excellent  and,  some 
of  them,  beautiful  houses  of  worship.     All  this  was  the  na- 
tural result  of  the  iiourishing  and  eminently  solid  condition 
of  the  system  of  College  administration,  based,  as  it  certainly 
w^as,  upon  Christian  principle.     This  enlargement  of  church 
advantages  and  privileges  could  not  but  exert  a  happy  in- 
fluence upon  the  students,  as  they  enjoyed  the  opportunity 
of  sitting  under  the  preaching  of  ministers  of  the  best  class, 
representing  all  the  various  denominations. 

Another  fact  in  this  connection  deserves  to  be  mentioned. 
Among  the  large  number  of  young  men  who  flocked  to  the 
University  a  goodly  proportion  were  poor  and  pious;  and 
while  anxious  to  prepare  themselves  for  the  ministry,  they 
were  destitute  of  the  means  to  meet  the  necessary  expenses. 
Just  such  youths  of  promise  were  urged  and  invited  by  Dr. 
'Waddel  to  become  students  of  the  Institution.  Quite  a  num- 
ber were  admitted  by  the  provisions  of  the  University  code 


Caee  of  Young  Men  for  the  Ministry.  99 

to  free  tuition  who  were  desirous  to  preach.  Says  Dr. 
Chiu'ch  again ,  ''  Dr.  Waddel  induced  several  families  in  the 
town  and  adjoining  county  eacli  to  board  one  poor  young 
man  who  was  j^reparing  for  the  ministry.  God  poured  out 
his  Sj^irit  upon  the  institution,  and  many,  in  a  few  years,  were 
hopefully  converted,  and  went  forth  as  teachers  of  acad- 
emies and  preachers  of  the  gospel.  At  the  end  of  ten  years 
the  good  man  was  permitted  to  see  a  change  in  the  institu- 
tion, a  change  of  the  moral  and  rehgious  aspect  of  the  State, 
a  change  in  the  prospects  of  the  feeble  branch  of  it  to  which 
he  belonged,  w4iich  more  than  realized  his  most  sanguine 
expectations."  It  is  thus  seen  that  he  did  not  err  in  his  in- 
terpretation of  the  indications  of  Providence  in  respect  to 
accepting  the  call  to  the  University. 


CHAPTEK   XY. 

Dk.  Waddel's  Objects  in  View  in  Accepting  the  Presidency  of  the 
U^^vERSITY. — Successful  Results. — Close  of  his  Term  of  Ser- 
vice. — Resignation. 

IVTO  ono  not  intimately  associated  with  Dr.  Waddel  pre- 
J_^    -sdous  to  liis  removal  to  Athens,  and  his  entrance  upon 
the  untried  duties  of  President  of  a  University,  can  appre- 
ciate the  state  of  his  mind,  in  view  of  so  radical  a  revolution 
of  all  his  cherished  plans  as  was  involved  in  this  movement. 
For  the  space  of  more  than  thirty-five  years  he  had  been 
laboriously  engaged  in  the  practical  business  of  education, 
and  in  connection  with  this  department  of  labor,  for  more 
than  a  quarter  century  he  had  devoted  himself,  with  equal 
earnestness  aud  consecration,  to  the  solemn  ser^dce  of  the 
gospel  ministry.     And   now  he  had   been   contemj^lating, 
Avith  pleasing  anticipations,  a  partial  release  from  this  long- 
continued  and  toilsome  double  work.     It  was  thus  his  cher- 
ished scheme  to  withdraw  gradually  from  the  school-room, 
in  order  that  he  might  have  more  leisure  to  devote  his  mind 
and  his  time  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  without  the  intru- 
sion of  other  cares  upon  his  attention.     It  is  known  to  those 
who  were  intimately  acquainted  with  his  private   history 
that  he  loved  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  was  just  as 
much  absorbed  in  his  ministerial  office  as   in   that  of  a 
teacher.     It  was  just  at  such  a  time  as  that,  in  1818,  when 
the  call  to  the  State  University  was  pressed  so  urgently 
upon  him  by  his  friends  and  pupils  in  Georgia.     The  ■v\Titer 
has  learned  from  a  member  of  his  family,  to  whom  he  ha- 
bitually communicated  his  most  secret  thoughts,  that  the 
mental  conflict  through  which  he  passed  in  the  consider a- 

100 


Hirf  Influence  in  the  Presidency.  101 

tion  and  decision  of  this  question  was  extremely  distressing, 
and  at  one  time  seemed  as  though  it  would  i^rove  disastrous. 
As  his  life-long  custom  at  all  times  had  been  to  seek  light 
on  all  subjects  involving  a  question  of  duty  from  the  only 
infalhblo  source,  which  had  always  made  the  way  clear  and 
the  i^ath  plain,  so  on  this  occasion  he  obeyed  the  injunction 
and  reahzed  the  j^romise  in  the  "Word  of  God,  "  If  any  of 
you  lack  wisdom,  let  him  ask  of  God,  that  giveth  to  all  men 
liberally  and  ui3braideth  not,  and  it  shall  be  given  him." 
Convinced,  then,  that  it  was  clearly  his  duty  to  accept  the 
<!all  to  this  new  field,  he  yielded,  with  some  reluctance,  all 
his  private  and  personal  objections,  and  accepted  it  as  the 
will  of  God  pointing  out  to  him  what  he  should  do.  Find- 
ing, on  full  discussion,  that  no  obstacle  would  ever  be  made 
to  his  exercising  his  ministry  in  this  sphere  of  service,  he 
entered  with  his  accustomed  zeal  and  devotion  upon  his 
duties  as  President,  with  two  motives  operating  upon  him, 
^vhich  he  kept  steadily  in  view  during  his  ten  years'  term  of 
office.  These  motives  were :  First.  Here  he  could  use  his 
Lest  efforts,  relying  upon  divine  aid,  to  raise  the  University 
irom  the  low  state  to  which  it  had  sunk  in  public  estima- 
tion, and  to  give  it  so  much  respectability  and  usefulness  as 
to  secure  the  confidence  of  the  people  of  the  State.  But 
ihis  was  not  the  only  nor  the  chief  controlling  motive  which 
brought  his  mind  to  the  decision  that  he  was  directed  by 
divine  providence  to  accept  the  call,  for,  secondly,  he  felt 
that  before  him  would  be  opened  a  grand  opportunity  of 
communicating  to  the  system  of  public  education  the  S2nrit 
of  Christianity  as  the  animating  principle  of  the  whole,  not 
only  by  preaching,  but  by  prominently  holding  up  the  Bible  as 
the  source  and  fountain  of  all  true  wisdom  and  government. 
He  held  that  the  education  which  only  tends  to  the  cultm*e 
of  the  intellect  by  the  communication  of  scientific  and  literary 
truth  is  defective  in  that  it  would  train  the  mind  in  a  one- 
sided method  by  ignoring]:  his  moral  natui'e.     For  this  rea- 


102  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

son  he  invariably  sought  to  unite  the  two  great  departments 
of  the  human  subject,  and  bring  them  both,  the  intellectual 
and  the  moral,  under  the  influence,  not  only  of  science,  but 
of  Christianity.     It  is  surely  no  derogation  from  these  ac- 
tuating motives,  but  rather  a  confirmation  of  their  influence 
over  his  own  mind,  that  he  placed  his  foui'  sons  in  this  In- 
stitution, where  they  all,  in  succession,  received  their  train- 
ing under  his  personal  inspection.     Before  he  had  suspected 
that  he  should  be  ever  appointed,  as  he  was,  to  the  super- 
intendence of  such  an  institution  of  learning,  he  had  placed 
his  eldest  son  at  Princeton  College  as  a  student,  and  al- 
though he  reposed  the  utmost  confidence  in  that  institution, 
he  felt  it  his  duty  to  recall  him  to  Athens,  where  he  should 
be  imder  his  own  guidance  and  direction.     It  is  a  historical 
fact,  true  of  all  Institutions  of  learning,  that  their  character, 
either  for  weal  or  woe,  depends  more  upon  the  influence  of 
the  presiding  officer  than  upon  that  of  any  other  member  of 
the  Faculty.     It  is  also  noteworthy  that  this  was  true  of  all 
Presidents  of  Colleges  during  the  times  now  under  considera- 
tion in  a  greater  degree  than  it  is  at  present.     In  any  given 
Faculty  there  may  have  been  more  profoundly  learned  men, 
w^ho  were  regarded  by  the  outside  world  as  more  gifted  in 
some  respects,  than  the  man  who  filled  the  chief  position; 
but  it  camiot  be  questioned  that  he  was  by  all  expected  to 
shape  and  s^'stematize  the  entire  policy  of  the  Institution, 
and  thus,  by  necessary  consequence,  he  was  held  to  a  most 
rigid  responsibility  for  the  results  of  his  administration  of 
its   affairs,  both  internal  and  external.     If  prosperity'  at- 
tended and  success  followed  his  theories  when  reduced  to 
practice ;  if  his  system  of  discipline  should  be  productive  of 
order,  gentlemanly  deportment,  and  obedience  to  law  among 
the  students,  and  if  confidence  should  be  established  in  the 
Institution  and  its  management,  and  this  favorable  opinion 
of  the  pubHc  should  be  manifested  in  its  steadily-increasing 
patronage   from  year    to  year,   then    the   credit  would  be 


His  Influence  in  the  Presidency  103 

almcsi  uniYersallv  accorded  to  him  tnIio  ^vas  at  tlie  head  of 
affairs      On  the  other  hand,  if  the  administration  should 
be  accompanied  by  the  reverse  of  all  these  results;  if  the 
students  should  prove  to  be  disorderly  and  ungentlemanhke, 
dissipated  and  idle,  and  all  this  should  be  folloAved  by  re- 
ports of  annuallv  diminished  patronage,  confidence  ^N'ould  be 
lost  and  the  President  Avould  be  condemned  as  incapable 
and  an  un^vorthv  incumbent  of  the  office.     Strictly  speak- 
in-  this  decision  in  regard  to  the  head  of  the  Institution 
miVht  not  be  just,  either  in  the  case  of  success  or  failure 
In  Uie  former  he  might  have  been  vigorously  seconded  and 
sustamed  bv  p.  Faculty  Avhose  several  members  wero  a  unit, 
presenting  an  unbroken  front  to  all  factious  opposition,  in 
which  event  the  credit  of  success  should  have  been  shared 
with  them,  because,  in  this  condition,   success   ^Nould   be 
almost  assured.     Yet  in  a  divided  corps  of  instructors,  ^ha 
had  private  feeUngs  to  gratify  opposed  to  his  vie^N's,  the  best, 
presidino-  officer  ever  in  charge  would  find   that  he  was 
weakened,  and  the  institution  might  be  forced  into  dissolu- 
tion     Even  then  the  failure  observed  in  the  enterprise,  m  most 
instances,  would  be  attributed  to  the  president.     Of  the  cor- 
rectness of  this  statement  we  might  present  abundant  lUustra- 
tion  in  institutions  as  they  existed  half  a  centm-y  since.    Now, 
all  this  was  well-known  to  Dr.  Waddel  as  the  state  of  thmgs 
in  general  inseparable  from  such  a  position,  and  which  he 
mi-ht  expect  in  assuming  the  presidency  of  any  institution; 
and  vet,  as  no  man  was  ever  more  sensible  of  the  weight  of 
resp<msibihtv  attached  to  such  an  office,  so,  on  the  other 
hand  no  man  was  ever  less  disposed  to  shrink  from  the  dis- 
charge of  a  well  ascertained  duty  by  reason  of  the  conse- 
quen^'ces.     In  this  it  is  not  the  design  of  the  writer  to  inti- 
mate that  he  was  a  man  of  imperious  or  despotic  tempera- 
ment; that  he  was  so  wedded  to  his  own  opinions  that  he 
was  determined  to  carrv  them  out  at  all  hazards  and  in  de- 
spite of  all  opposition.     His  habit  of  asking  wisdom  from 


104  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

above  was  accompanied  with  tbe  knowledge  of  the  great 
fact,  that  the  will  of  God  was  ordinaril}'"  communicated 
through  men  as  his  instruments.  So  he  hearkened  respect- 
fully to  the  opinions  of  his  colleagues  and  others,  and  j'ielded 
to  them  all  the  weight  and  deference  to  which  they  w'ere  en 
titled.  But  it  should  be  stated  that  he  was  highly  favored 
in  being  connected  with  a  class  of  wise  and  conservative 
counsellors  dui'ing  his  administration,  both  in  the  Faculty 
and  his  more  immediate  circle  of  friends  in  the  Board  of 
Trustees.  That  he  occasionally,  in  obedience  to  what  he  be- 
lieved to  be  impressions  made  upon  his  mind  by  God's 
Spirit,  acted  independently  of  human  counsel,  and  some- 
times even  in  contravention  of  the  previous  action  of  the 
^Faculty  in  which  he  himself  had  fully  concurred,  is  set  forth 
in  another  passage  of  Dr.  Church's  letter: 

"It  became  necessary,  as  the  Faculty  believed,  on  a  certain 
occasion,  to  pursue  a  course  which  a  large  portion  of  the 
students  considered  an  unjustifiable  interference  with  a 
society.  A  committee  of  the  society  notified  the  Faculty 
that  it  would  be  dangerous  to  attempt  to  carry  out  the  resolu- 
tion. This  was  considered  a  threat,  and  at  once  the  Faculty 
determined  to  act  with  energy  The  action  was  to  be  that 
evening,  immediately  after  prayers,  in  the  chapel.  Dr. 
"Waddel  was  as  decided  in  his  opinion  as  am'  member  of 
the  body,  but  as  he  entered  the  chapel  a  d  )ubt  came  into 
his  mind  as  to  the  prudence  of  the  course  adopted.  He 
prayed  most  earnestly  for  both  students  and  Faculty,  and 
especially  that  the  latter  might  be  endowed  wdth  wisdom 
and  prudence  and  grace.  But  when  he  closed  the  exercises, 
instead  of  leading  the  Faculty  to  carry  out  their  resolution 
(as  he  had  expected  to  do),  he  left  the  chaj)el  and  retired 
without  an  intimation  to  any  one  concerning  his  conduct. 
He  afterwards  informed  me  that  he  became  fully  convinced 
that  the  course  which  the  Faculty  had  determined  to  pursue 
was  not  prudent,  and  he  had  nut  a  doubt  that  his  mind  had 


Keminiscences.  •     105 

under o-one  this  change  in  consequence  of  an  intimation  from 
the  S])irit  of  God.  Subsequent  developments  clearly  proved 
that,  had  he  persisted  in  endeavoring  to  efiect  the  object  of 
the  Faculty,  most  serious,  and  probably  melancholy,  conse- 
quences would  have  ensued.  A  young  man  of  desperate 
character,  excited  by  intoxication,  was  pledged  to  defeat,  at 
any  expense,  the  attempts  of  the  Faculty,  and  this  he  could 
have  done  under  the  circumstances  without  the  probability 
of  detection.  It  was  generally  acknowledged  afterwards, 
that  whatever  influence  controlled  his^  mind,  the  result  was 
most  propitious." 

At  this  point  in  the  narrative  I  can  introduce,  with  great 
propriety,  a  valued  contribution  to  the  subject  of  my  father's 
general  character  and  administration  of  the  government  of 
the  University  during  the  term  of  service  extending  over  the 
period  from  1819  to  1829.  It  is  furnished  by  Rev.  S.  G. 
Hillyer,  D.  D.,  a  classmate  of  mine,  and  an  intimate  friend 
during  our  University  course.  Dr.  Hillyer  is  an  eminent 
minister  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  Georgia.  He  was  ap- 
pointed soon  after  our  graduation  to  the  position  of  tutor  in 
the  University  on  account  of  his  fine  scholarship,  and  after 
that  was  elected  to  the  Professorship  of  Rhetoric  in  Mercer 
University,  at  Penfield,  Ga.,  where  he  served  with  eminent 
success  and  ability.  He  has  occupied  pulpits  of  various  im- 
portant churches  of  the  Baptist  denomination  in  Georgia, 
and  has  spent  a  long  life  of  consecrated  toil  in  the  great 
joint  fields  of  mental,  moral,  and  spiritual  training  and  in- 
struction of  his  generation.  Knowing  his  stores  of  informa- 
tion, his  reliableness  as  a  writer  of  the  narrative  of  his  re- 
miniscences, his  impartiality  and  candor  of  judgment,  his 
knowiedge  of  human  nature,  and,  above  all,  his  devotion  to 
the  memory  of  my  father,  I  applied  to  him  f(3r  a  statement 
of  his  estimate  of  his  character,  and  for  any  facts  which  he 
might  be  able  to  recall  from  the  review  of  the  period  of  his 
connection  with  him  as  a  student.     He  very  kindly  com- 


106  Moses  Waddel,  D.  r>. 

plied  by  furnishing  me  promptly  and  fully  -with  such  a  con- 
tribution as  I  had  asked  for,  with  eyen  more  full  and  satis- 
factory minuteness  than  I  could  have  expected.  This  nar- 
rative and  estimate  I  now  proceed  to  transcribe  in  his  own 

words. 

Rev.  Dr.  S.  G.  Ilillye'i^'s  Statement. 

"I  will  now  try  to  give  you  some  reminiscences  of  your 
noble  father.  First  of  all,  let  me  tell  j-ou  of  his  relation  to 
our  family.  He  and  my  father  were  nearly  of  the  same  age, 
and  they  lived  for  years  in  the  same  neighborhood — my 
father  at  old  Petersburgh,  in  Elbert  county,  Ga.,  and  Dr. 
Waddel  over  in  South  Carolina,  at  Willington.  Some  busi- 
ness relations  furnished  opportunity  for  them  to  becomo 
acquainted  with  each  other.  I  think  also  that  my  mother 
and  grandmother  Avere  personally  acquainted  with  Dr.  Wad- 
del  at  that  early  day.  Be  this  as  it  may,  they  knew  him  by 
character.  Accordingly,  when  my  father  died,  in  1820,  and 
when  it  became  the  all-absorbing  question  with  my -mother 
what  could  be  done  for  her  children,  she  sought  the  advice 
of  your  father.  She  consulted  him  at  Athens.  His  advice 
was:  Give  them  a  Collegiate  education  at  all  hazards.  He 
said :  '  Give  the  boys  an  education,  and  you  give  them  a 
possession  they  can  never  lose.  It  will  always  afford  them 
means  of  support.'  Tliis  advice  accorded  wdth  my  mother's 
wishes,  and  accordingly  arrangements  were  made  at  an 
early  day  to  remove  our  family  to  Athens,  where  we  enjoyed 
those  advantages  which  have  shaped  our  course  through 
hfe.  Your  father  would  sometimes  visit  my  mother  and 
grandmother  at  our  humble  home  near  Athens.  He  was 
always  kind  to  me.  When  I  would  occasionally  go  home 
with  you  it  seemed  to  give  him  pleasure  to  entertain  us  with 
his  humor  and  pleasantry ;  and  after  my  graduation  he,  of 
his  own  good  will,  jiut  me  in  correspondence  with  a  promi- 
nent citizen  of  Florida,  Colonel  Gamble,  which  proved  to  be 
of  great  advantage  to  me.     So  much  for  his  relations  to  us. 


EeMDsISCENCBS. 


lOT 


No  intelHgent  man  could  know  your  father's  life,  character, 
and  work  without  being  impressed  with  the  fact  that  he  was 
indeed  a  great  and  a  good  man.     He  gave  an  impulse  to  the 
cause  of  education  in  South  Carohna  and  Georgia  which 
scarcely  any  other  man  at  that  time  could  have  done.     His 
school  at  Wilhngton  was  a  brHliant  success.     Such  men  as 
John  C.  Calhoun,  George  McDuffie,  George  R.  Gilmer,  and 
Augustus  B.  Longstreet  received  from  him  the  early  train- 
ing^that  made  them  the  great  men  of  their  generation.     In 
the  year  1818  Dr.  AVaddell  was  called,  and,  in  1819,  he  ac- 
cepted the  call  to  preside  over  our  State  University.     I  once 
heard  him  say  that  when  he  first  entered  upon  his  duties 
at  Athens  he  found  just  seven  students  playmg  'hide  and 
seek '  m  the  rooms  of  the  old  collego  building.     In  three  or 
four  years  the  attendance  had  run  up  to  nearly  or  quite  a 
hundred.     In  administrative  ability  he  was  pretminentlij 
the  central  figure  in  the  Faculty.     During  the  time  of  his 
Presidency  the  coUege  sent  out  a  class  of  alumni  whose 
lives  illustrated  not  only  the  glory  of  their  Alma  Mater,  but 
of  the  State  in  which  they  lived.     Kot  only  our  own  State, 
but  Alabama,  Mississippi,  and  Texas  felt  the  iufluence  for 
many  years  of  that  master  spirit  which  presided  over  Frank- 
lin College  from  1819  to  1829.     In  his  domestic  relations, 
his  success  was  but  the   counterpart,  on  a  more    limited 
scale,  of  the  distinction  which  crowned  his  pubhc  services. 
Of  his  large  family,  there  was  not  one  of  whom  a  father 
might  not  be  proud.     His  sous,  in  exalted  moral  worth,  in 
high  intellectual  culture,  and  most  attractive  social  quali- 
ties, had  few  equals  and  no  superiors  ;  while  his  daughters, 
too,'  were  adorned  with  the  loveliness  of  a  noble  womanhood. 
As 'a  theologian,  your  father  was  profound  and  orthodox. 
As  a  sermonizer,  he  was  methodical  and  exhaustive.     His 
style  was  distinguished  for  its  purity  and  for  its  perspicacity. 
Even  the  illiterate  could  understand  him.     A  case  in  point 
came  under  my  own  knowledge.     My  grandmother  had  an 


108  Mo3E3  Waddel,  D.  D. 

old  servant,  who  was  a  religious  woman,  but  very  ignorant. 
On  a  certain  Sunday  morniuGf  she  asked  mv  £?randmother  to 
let  her  go  to  church  that  day.  Grandmother  said  to  her: 
*Why,  Kachel,  there  is  no  place  where  there  is  preaching 
to-day  but  the  College  Chapel,  and  the  President  of  the  Col- 
lege will  preach.  You  can't  understand  Dr.  Waddel  preach- 
ing tc  all  those  learned  folks  in  the  chapel.'  *  Never  mind,' 
said  the  old  woman ;  '  please  let  me  go  ? '  Consent  was 
given,  of  course.  By  and  bye  she  returned  from  church, 
full  of  the  sermon  she  had  heard.  She  said  to  my  grand- 
mother that  the  sermon  had  done  her  good,  and  that  she 
could  understand  it  all.  She  seemed  to  be  delighted  with 
what  she  had  heard.  Now,  a  compliment  to  your  father's 
sermon  from  such  a  man  as  Dr.  Olin  was  what  might  have 
been  expected,  but  coming,  as  it  did,  from  an  ignorant  old 
darkey,  makes  us  think  of  Jlim  of  whom  it  was  said  '  the 
common  peojDle  heard  him  gladly.'  As  a  citizen.  Dr.  Wad- 
del  was  ever  mindful  of  the  public  good.  Though  exem2)t 
by  law,  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  from  the  duty  of  serving 
on  juries,  yet  he  waived  his  privilege,  and,  when  called  on, 
would  take  his  place  on  the  grand  jur}"  of  the  county.  When 
we  remember  the  important  functions  committed  by  our 
laws  to  that  body,  we  can  see  that  such  a  man  as  Dr.  Wad- 
del  could  not  fail  to  be  eminently  useful  on  our  grand 
juries.  His  great  intelligence,  his  love  of  country,  and  his 
high  moral  rectitude  were  just  the  qualities  most  needed  in 
such  bodies.  Thus  I  have  given  you  a  very  brief  statement  of 
my  impressions  of  your  father.  I  only  wish  I  had  space  and 
abihty  to  do  the  subject  justice.  Still  I  trust  it  may  afford 
a  few  suggestions  that  may  be  useful  to  you  in  your  pro- 
posed work.  Allow  me  to  give  an  anecdote  of  trivial  im- 
portance, yet  none  the  less  illustrative  of  your  father's  ad- 
ministrative ability.  A  student  had  been  guilty  of  some 
impropriety.  Dr.  Waddel  sent  for  him  and  gave  him  a  pri- 
vate lecture  in  his  room.     AVhen  he  returned  to  his  fellow- 


Methodci  of  Discipline.  109 

Btudent8  they  were  curious  to  know  what  had  passed  be- 
tween him  and  the  President.     He  put  on  quite  an  an-  of 
importance,  and  gave  such  an  account  o£  the  interview  as  to 
make  the  impression  that  he  had  pretty  successfully    bul- 
lied '  the  Doctor.     Not  long  afterwards  another  student  vjas 
sent  for  to  the  Presideufs  room.     Remembering  what  the 
former  culprit  had  said,  he  concluded  to  play  a  similar 
game.     Accordingly,  as  soon  as  the  President  opened  the 
tase  the  voung  man  put  on  an  air  of  offended  surprise,  and,  m 
rather  ahaughty  tone,  began  to  ask  why  he  --  ^-f;^  ""^ 
for  reprimand  and- ;  but  before  he  had  proceeded  fai  thei, 
the  Doctor  stopped  him  with  a  frown,  saying:  'My  young 
friend,  if  vou  cannot  speak  to  me  in  a  more  becoming  man- 
ner than  ;-ou  have  assumed,  there  is  the  door,  and  the  sooner 
you  take'it  the  better.'    The  student  saw  at  a  g  ance  that 
L  was  on  the  wi-ong  taoJc,  and  promptly  changed  his  course. 
At  once  he  made  apologies,  which  Dr.  Waddel  so  fa     ac 
cepted  as  to  give  the  lecture,  which  was  received  with  be- 
ming  meekLs.     The  student  told  me  this  story  on  him- 
self, and  then  added:  'Granby,  when  you  hear  the  boys 
bra:.o.mg  how  they  have  'bullied'  Dr.  A\addel,  you  just 
quie'tly  conclude  that  they  are  lyinff  ;  for  I  tell  you  no  stu- 
lent  'ever  did  it.     It  can't  be  done.'    Other  incidents  per- 
haps not  so  illustrative  as  the  preceding,  of  his  method 
mUt  be  presented,  but  not  less  entertaining  to  the  general 
reader.     But  I  content  myself  with  the  general  remark  that 
his  mode  of  discipline  was  pecuhar  to  himself,  and  always 

successful."  ..      ^      £         r^f  i.,-a 

The  foregoing  is,  according  to  the  estimate  of  one  of  his 
pupils,  who  knew  and  esteemed  him  well,  a  tmthful  presen- 
tation of  Ms  personal  and  public  character.  I  am  sure  that 
all  the  records  of  a  man's  Ufe  who  serves  the  public  for 
many  years  are  rarely  ever  given  to  the  general  reader. 
But  I  am  equally  sui-e  that  a  biography  professing  to  be 
U-ue  and  faithful  rests  for  its  value  upon  a  minute  detail  ot 


110  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

matters  of  jDrivate  interest  rather  than  upon  eulogistic  state- 
ments of  great  quahties,  as  they  are  viewed  by  the  partiahty 
of  Lis  friends.  The  interspersing  of  incidents  such  as  are 
here  mentioned  does  not  detract  from,  but  serves  strikingly 
to  illustrate  the  nature  of  that  practical  and  faithful  admin- 
istration of  discipline  which  was  a  marked  characteristic  of 
Dr.  Waddel. 

But  the  term  for  Avhich  he  had  originally  made  his  own 
t!alculations  to  serve  the  University  was  drawing  near  its 
dose.  He  believed  that  the  work  apx3ointed  by  Pro^idenc€ 
for  him  to  do  in  the  Universit}^  and  in  Athens  was  drawing 
near  its  end,  and  he  knew  that  what  remained  to  be  done 
in  the  future  would  be  accomplished  with  comparative  ease 
by  those  who  should  come  after  him.  He  rejoiced  to  know 
'the  fact  that,  in  God's  providence,  he  had  been  successful 
as  a  pioneer  in  the  great  work  of  preparing  the  w^y  for 
others.  He  was  not  the  man  to  boast,  but  surely  his  was  a 
pardonable  satisfaction  in  the  retrospect  presented  in  con- 
templating his  past  ten  years  of  successful  labor  and  trial. 
He  had  found  a  fallen  Institution  lying  low  in  aj^parently 
irretrievable  desolation.  The  number  of  students  present 
on  his  arrival  he  found  to  be  only  seven,  aU  told !  He  found 
that  the  public  had  become  dead  to  all  interest  in  the  insti- 
tution, and  almost  hopeless  of  its  resuscitation.  He  found 
a  straggling  little  hamlet  stretching  along  the  pubhc  high- 
way, with  no  prospect  of  revival  and  enlargement.  To  give 
a  description  of  the  condition  of  things  in  Athens  we  may 
adopt  Dr.  Hulls  language  as  the  true  record  by  one  whose 
childhood,  youth,  and  honored  age  had  been  spent  upon  the 
spot:  "Prior  to  1820  there  v;ere  no  improvements  west  of 
Lumpkin  street.  .  .  .  All  that  part  of  the  town  was  in 
woods,  not  a  stick  amiss."  Such  is  a  graphic  description  of 
what  was  then  the  seat  of  the  State  University.  But  a  de- 
cade had  wrought  wonders  in  the  condition  of  the  University 
and  of  the  tov,ii  of  Athens.     Dr.  Waddel  was  now  looking 


Athens  and  the  University.  Ill 

forward  to  his  retirement  from  this  scene,  iu  which  he  had 
formed  a  conspicuous  figui'e,  and  w^here  he  had  acted  a 
prominent  part.  He  was  about  to  leave  the  University  erect 
and  triumphant  over  all  its  disabilities.  In  its  halls  he 
would  leave  an  able  and  efficient  and  accomplished  Faculty, 
Tinder  the  leadership  of  a  tried  and  approved  chief  execu- 
tive. Instead  of  seven  students,  he  had  been  permitted  to 
witness  the  annual  arrival  of  multitudes  of  the  youth  of 
Georgia  and  of  the  neighboring  States,  seeking  the  benefits 
of  its  open  and  ever-flowing  fountains  of  knowledge.  In- 
stead of  a  wrecked  vessel,  it  was  now  in  full  sail  for  the 
haven  of  j^ermanent  success.  It  was  the  pride  and  hope  of 
a  gratified  j)eople,  and  was  holding  out  its  attractions  to 
the  surrounding  States,  and  rising  daily  in  its  reputation  as 
a  safe  and  trustworthy  dispensing  agent  of  Christian  educa- 
tion. As  he  contemplated  these  vast  improvements  iu  the 
University,  which  had  resulted  more  immediately  from  his 
personal  connection  with  it,  he  could  not  but  be  aware  of 
the  corresponding  changes  in  the  prospects  of  the  town  as 
equally  certain  and  direct  results  of  the  prosperity  of  the 
University.  Dr.  Hull's  testimony  may  be  adduced  again, 
and  it  is  to  this  effect.  Going  back  to  the  history  of  the 
University  in  its  earher  progi'ess,  he  writes : 

"For  a  quarter  of  a  century  at  least,  the  interests  of 
Athens  and  of  the  University  went  hand  in  hand;  they  rose 
or  fell  together.  Indeed,  one  was  nothing  without  the 
other.  At  one  time  the  income  of  the  institution  was  so  low 
as  to  leave  President  Meigs  alone  to  instnict  all  the  classes 
in  eveiy  department  of  science.  So  the  College  came  veiy 
near  the  gates  of  death,  and  the  town  had  but  Httle  more 
\dtahty ;  so  the  College  sickened  and  the  town  languished." 

Accordingly,  after  ten  years  of  unexampled  prosperity 
and  success  for  the  University,  it  was  not  at  all  wonderful 
that  the  town  of  Athens  should  also  be  increased  in  popula- 
tion and  in  the  addition  to  the  extent  of  territory'  over  which 


112  MosE3  Waddel,  D.  D. 

it  spread.  Every  department  of  business  was  speedily  filled 
with  active  workers,  and  every  profession  was  represented, 
while  many  "  substantial  families "  were  attracted  to  the 
place  for  its  educational  advantages.  Those  who  came,  not 
content  with  coming  for  that  purpose  alone,  became  perma- 
nent residents  of  Athens,  and  built  fine  houses,  which  were 
ornaments  of  architecture.  The  healthfalness  of  the  place 
also  determined  many  wealthy  lower  country  planters  to  re- 
move and  settle  in  the  town.  In  this  way  it  became  one  of 
the  most  elegant  and  attractive  places  in  Georgia,  and  in- 
deed of  the  entire  South.  The  contemplation  of  these  re- 
markable changes,  wrought  within  so  short  a  period,  and 
all  tending  to  the  elevation  of  the  country  and  of  the  State 
at  large,  must  naturally  have  been  productive  of  the  pui'est 
gratification  to  the  heart  and  mind  of  the  man  whom  God 
in  his  providence  had  made  his  instrument  in  the  work  ac- 
complished. But  in  this  review  of  the  past  Dr.  'NA'^addel's 
chastened  Christian  principle  did  not  allow  him  to  indulge 
the  reflection  that  might  have  arisen  in  the  mind  of  one  who 
should  contrast  the  dead  past  with  this  hopeful  present, 
"  What  a  grand  work  have  I  performed!  "  but  he  could  not 
lose  sight  of  the  true  source  of  all  success,  and  feel,  as  he 
did,  "  AVhat  hath  God  wrought!  " 

He  had  also  succeeded  in  an  object  which  lay  very  near 
his  heart,  a  j^i'ivate  and  personal  matter,  and  which  entered 
into  the  consideration  of  the  question  of  his  acceptance  of 
the  call  to  the  Presidency — the  superintendence  of  the  col- 
legiate education  of  his  four  sons,  already  mentioned.  His 
eldest  son,  James  P.  AYaddel,  having  been  recalled  by  him 
from  Princeton  College,  New  Jersey,  after  his  entrance 
there  as  a  student,  was  matriculated  in  the  University  of 
Georgia  soon  after  the  institution  was  reorganized,  and  was 
graduated  in  the  third  class  imder  Dr.  Waddel's  adminis- 
tration. The  class  of  1820,  which  was  the  first  to  graduate 
under  him,  consisted  of  but  three.     The  class  of  1821  also 


His  Sons.  113 

numbered  three,  and  there  were  nine  members  in  the  class 
of  1822,  of  which  James  P.  Waddel  was  one.     His  standing 
was  among  the  foremost  of  a  very  excellent  class,  and  on 
Commencement  day  he  delivered  the  Latin  salutatorj^  the 
oration  always  assigned  to  the  second  honor-man  of  the 
graduating  class.     It  was  doubtless  very  gratifying  to  Dr. 
Waddel  that  his  son  was  thus  honored  in  closing  his  College 
course ;  yet  it  was  still  more  i^leasing  to  him  to  find  that  he 
was  chosen  immediately  to  fill  a  tutor's  i^lace  in  the  Faculty. 
In  this  i^osition  he  served  for  two  years,  giving  entire  satis- 
faction.    It  is  only  to  be  added  at  this  point  in  regard  to 
him  that  teaching  was  his  chosen  and  life-long  employment, 
thereafter  having   been  subsequently  elected   Professor  of 
Ancient   Languages  in  the   University,  in  which  office   he 
served   twenty  years.     Dr.  "Waddel's  sons,  Rev.  Isaac  W. 
AYaddel  and  William  W.  Waddel,  M.  D.,  were  graduated  in 
the  class  of  1823.     The  former  entered  the  ministry  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  labored  acceptably  and  usefully 
in  the  States  of  South  CaroHna  and  Georgia.     He  died  in 
Marietta,   Ga.,  in  1849,  in  the  forty-fifth  year  of  his  age. 
AY.  W.  AYaddel,  of  the  same  class,  embarked  in  the  medical 
profession,  and,  after  pursuing  preliminary  studies  with  Dr. 
Hull  as  his  preceptor  in  Athens,  he  spent  about  eighteen 
months  in  attendance  upon  medical  lectui-es  in  Philadelphia. 
Entering  upon  the  practice  of  medicine  with  enthusiasm,  he 
soon  reached  the  highest  rank  in  the  profession,  and  was 
elected  to  a  chair  in  the  faculty  of  the  Medical  CoUege  of 
Augusta,  which  he  declined.     In  the  hope  of  recovering  hi^ 
own  broken  health,  he  removed,  in  1833,  to  Tallahassee, 
Fla.,  and  after  he  had  estabhshed  himself  in  an  extensive 
and  lucrative  practice,  died  in  1843,  universally  lamented,  in 
his   thirty-seventh   year.      The  writer,   the  youngest  son, 
graduated  in  1829,  in  his  eighteenth  year,  and  all  that  may 
be  srid  of  him  just  here  is  that  he  has  pursued  the  same 
coui-se  in  pulpit  and  class-room  which  was  his  father's  hfe- 


IIJ:  Moses  Waddel  D.  D. 

work  for  so  long  a  time.     At  this  Commencement,  being  the 
tenth  at  which  Dr.  AYaddel  had  presided,  on  the  5th  of  Au- 
gust, 1829,  he  tendered  his  resignation,  delivering  a  fare- 
well address  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  in  public  on  the  ros- 
trum at  the  close  of  the  exercises  of  Commencement.     To 
this    address    General   Edward  Harden,   of  Savannah,  re- 
sponded on  the  part  of  the  Boaixl.     His  resignation  occm-red 
veiy  soon  after  he  had  entered  his  sixtieth  year.     It  was  ne- 
cessary that  he  should  reside  in  Athens  for  some  months 
after  his  retirement  from  office,  that  he  might  wind  up  his 
I)rivate  affairs  and  make  comfortable  provision  for  his  family 
at  his  South  Carolina  home,  which  he  still  owned,  at  the 
fjeat  of  the  Willington  Academy,  now  closed,  where  he  pro- 
posed to  end  his  days  in  peace  and  rest.     Accordingly,  he 
continued  to  make  Athens  headquarters  for  six  months  or 
more ;  and  in  the  latter  part  of  February,  1830,  he  ]-emoved 
'with  his  family  to  the  place  he  had  left  more  than  ten  years 
previously,  where  he  had  laboriously  spent  his  earlier  and 
more  vigorous  years  in  public  work.     On  the  morning  of  his 
departure,  as  his  carriage  stood  at  the  front  gate,  and  he 
"was  about  to  leave  on  his  journey,  a  long  procession  was 
seen  approaching,  which  j)roved  to  be  composed  of  students 
of  the  University,  their  object  being  to  take  formal  leave  of 
him  and  to  bid  him  farewell.     One  of  the  number,  who  had 
been  chosen  by  his  fellow-students  for  the  purpose,  deliv- 
ered a  suitable  address,  to  which  Dr.  AVaddel  responded  in 
appropriate  terms.     Thus  was  closed  the  imjDortant  work, 
"which  he  was  permitted  to  round  up  in  a  manner  so  agree- 
able, leaving  the  scene  of  his  labors,  followed  only  by  the 
truest  sentiments  of  loving  reverence  and  the  most  exalted 
appreciation  of  the  services  he  had  rendered  to  those  with 
"whom  he  had  been  associated. 

On  a  review  of  his  term  of  service,  so  pleasantly  closed, 
there  come  up  in  memory  other  points  of  interest,  some  of 
them  worthy  of  record.     They  have  reference  to  the  Chi'is- 


Christian  Influence.  115 

tian   influence   brought  to  bear  upon  the  university,  the 
town,   the  country,  the  State,   during  his  administration. 
At  the  time  under  consideration  there  was  clearly  observa- 
ble a  sentiment  beginning  to  prevail  that  the  church  at 
large  should  inaugurate  more  direct  and  active  efforts  to  in- 
troduce a  more  decided  and  aggressive  influence  of  a  Chris- 
tian character  into  the  system  of  public  education.     This, 
however,  could  be  effected  only  in  an  indirect  method  as  to 
the  University  in  the  interval  between  1819  and  1829.     It  is 
only  necessary  to  refer  the  reader  to  the  establishment  of 
Mercer  University,  at  Penfield;  Oglethorpe  University,  at 
Midway,  and  Emory  College,   at  Oxford,  as  the  result  of 
this  principle   of  action  on  the  part  of  several  churches. 
These  institutions,   nearly  all  of  them,  still  survive,  after 
triumphing  over  all  their  early  difficulties,  and  are  now  ac- 
comphshing  a  grand  work  for  church  and  State  in  then-  sev- 
eral spheres.     Nor  let  it  be  regarded  as  claiming  more  than 
is  due  to  the  old  University  to  assert  that  these  noble  insti- 
tutions are  all  of  them  indebted  to  some  extent  to  her  for 
the  training  of  some  of  their  best  and  wisest  presidents  and 
professors.     So  that,  in  the   absence  of  such  colleges  and 
universities  as  those  above  mentioned  under  denominational 
control,  the  University  of  Georgia  was  enabled  to  accom- 
phsh  a  great  work  in  this  direction  by  having  laid  down 
clearly  that,  iu  its  course  of  instruction,  even  in  literature 
and  science,  and  in  the  system  of  discipline  adopted,  no 
principle  would  be  tolerated  or  suggested  that  could  alienate 
the  student  from  the  system  of  Christian  truth.     It  was 
furthermore  distinctly  understood  of  the  policy  of  the  gov- 
erning Board  that,  in  the  character  and  example  of  every  in- 
structor, there  should  be  a  living  and  practical  illustration 
of  what  has  been  happily  called  unconscious  Christian  tui- 
tion.     This   fundamental  system   characterized  the  whole 
pohcy  of  th^  institution,  without  the  shghtest  attempt  to  in- 
troduce  or   obtrude   any   element   of   discord   that   might 


116  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

awaken  the   prejudice  of  anv  section  of  the  church.     In 
more  recent  times,  other  incidental  movements  have  been 
developed  and  brought  into  active  exercise,  which  have  ex- 
erted a  wholesome  moral  ^^o^'er  over  the  minds  and  morals 
of  students,   so   wisely  constituted  as  to  be  admissible  as 
readily  into  the  State  institutions  as  into  the  church  col- 
leges.    Among  these,  and  more  prominent  than  all  others, 
•we  may  mention  the  "Young  Men's  Christian  Association,'* 
which  is  found    everywhere  in  successful  career.     At  the 
time  under  consideration  this  voluntary  association  was  un- 
known in  the  region  from  which  the  University  drew  its 
students;  yet  who  can  read  its  history  and  fail  to  recognize 
the  fact,  that  even  without  the  numerous  adjuncts  of  a  moral 
and  Christian  character  to  aid  in  controlling  and  influencing 
the  students,  without  those  means  and  appliances  now  so 
common  and  effective,  that  there  was  then  a  pervasive  power 
of  Christian  influence  felt  through  the  entire  student  body  ? 
It  held  a  conservative  restraint  over  even  those  who  had  no 
religious  predilections,  preventing  all  violent  manifestations 
of  \ice  and  disorder,  and  frowning  effectually  upon  all  forms 
of  infidelity.     This  was  not  the  full  effect  of  this  indirect 
Christian  power;  it  was  not  confined  in  its  results  to  the 
student  commiuiity,  but  extended  over  the  town  of  Athens 
and  the  neighboring  country.     True,  we  had  no  regularly 
organized    Christian  association   among  the  students,   but 
there  was  in  every  class  a  goodh    number  of  pious  young 
men,  some  having  in  view  the  Christian  ministry,  others 
members  of  the  churches,  consistent  in  their  walk  and  stand- 
ing, who  held  j^rayer-meetings  among  themselves  and  opened 
their  meetings  to  general  attendance.     These  candidates  for 
the  ministry  were,  in  many  cases,  superintendents  of  the 
Sabbath-schools,  and  were  in  the  habit  of  teaching  classes 
in  them,  besides  being  engaged  often  in  holding  prayer- 
meetings  at  private  houses  in  the  country  and  in  the  town 
on  Sabbath  evenings  when  the  churches  were  closed.     Many 


His  Plans  Fully  Endorsed.  117 

of  those  who  subsequently  entered  the  ministry  and  became 
prominent  as  preachers  of  the  gospel  pursued  their  literary- 
course  and  were  graduated  from  the  University,  This  fact 
goes  far  to  confirm  the  statement,  that  a  wholesome  Chris- 
tian influence  was  felt  and  encouraged  in  that  institution. 
It  may  be  easily  p;athered,  from  a  cursory  perusal  of  the 
Centennial  Catalogue  of  the  University,  that  of  the  number 
of  graduates  during  the  ten  years  of  which  we  write,  and 
the  three  years  after  1829,  diu'ing  which  the  graduates 
closed  their  course,  begun  between  1819  and  1829,  there 
were  more  than  forty  who  entered  the  gospel  ministry. 
Some  of  these  became  eminently  useful  ministers  of  their 
several  chm-ches,  and  not  a  few,  eminent  fur  learning  and 
high  Christian  character,  became  presidents  and  professors 
in  Southern  institutions  of  learning,  and  others,  again,  pious 
lapnen  in  private  life. 

The  foregoing  statement  of  facts,  under  the  circumstances, 
shows  that  the  University,  although  a  State  institution,  has 
not  been  altogether  barren  of  greatly  beneficial  results  to 
the  cause  of  Christian  education,  to  which  we  may  make  two 
additional  remarks : 

1.  It  would  be  unjust  to  others  if  the  writer  should  be 
understood  as  designing  to  attribute  these  results  solely  to 
Dr.  Waddel ;  for  while  it  is  true,  as  has  already  been  shown, 
that  more  depends  upon  the  presiding  officer  of  any  institu- 
tion than  upon  any  other  person  connected  with  it  at  the 
time  (as  it  respects  the  character  of  the  influence  it  exerts), 
at  the  same  time  success  cannot  be  assured  to  his  best  and 
most  strenuous  efforts  if,  in  attempting  to  carry  out  his  pohcy, 
he  must  encounter  opposition  from  the  authorities  or  from 
colleagues.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  a  comparatively  easy 
task  to  carry  into  effect  a  favorite  theory,  and  to  imbue  the 
entire  body  with  his  views,  provided  he  is  heartily  sustained 
by  those  with  whom  he  is  associated.  This  was  eminently 
true  of  the   admmistration  of  Dr.   Waddel.      Those   who 


118  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

labored  with  him  in  this  arduous  enterprise  of  building  up 
an  institution  of  learning  saw  at  once  that  his  Adews  were 
sound,  and  that  he  deserved  their  confidence ;  and  so,  appre- 
ciating his  ideas  at  their  proper  Talue,  they  stood  by  him  in 
all  his  toils  and  trials,  and  aided  him  in  the  accomphshment 
of  his  cherished  theories.  Hence  that  success  in  the  re- 
establishment  of  a  fallen  institution,  and  the  development 
of  its  inherent  possibilities  into  real  and  practical  results 
the  highest  and  most  beneficial  chaiacter,  although  reflect- 
ing merited  credit  and  honor  upon  him,  must  necessarily  be 
shared  by  others  who  labored  with  him.  Let  it  also  be  re- 
corded, that  he  was  not  the  man  to  detract  from  another  his 
due  meed  of  honor,  or  to  forget  to  bestow  it  upon  those  who 
won  it. 


CHAPTEK  XYI. 

Death  of  Mks.  "Waddei>.  — Manner  of  Life  in  Betikemext. — Chtjrches 
HE  Served. — His  Associates  Among  his  MinisteriaIj  Brethren. — 
Last  Sickness  and  Death. 

THE  opening  Spring  season  of  1830  found  him  once  more 
established  at  AVillington,  S.  C.  It  has  been  stated  in 
a  former  chapter,  that,  on  account  of  malarial  influences,  he 
had  removed  from  his  first  settlement  to  the  little  hamlefc 
distant  about  a  mile  south.  There  he  found  and  occupied  a, 
new  and  commodious  dwelling,  where  he  spent  his  last  days 
of  rest  until  overtaken  bv  disease.  Here  began  those  peace- 
ful years,  in  freedom  from  hea\y  public  responsibility,  to 
which  he  had  been  so  long  looking  with  most  earnest  long- 
ings. Being  now  no  longer  in  the  receipt  of  a  salary,  ade- 
quate and  promptly  paid,  his  main  earthly  dependence  for 
income  in  the  future  rested  in  the  cultivation  of  a  farm, 
which  he  kept  in  operation,  and  which  jdelded  quite  a  suffi- 
cient support  for  himself  and  his  family.  One  remark  will 
be  here  inserted  as  completing  his  private  history  and  shed- 
ding some  additional  light  on  his  character.  Dr.  Waddel 
was  a  slave-holder,  and  his  servants  were  the  laborers  on  his- 
farm,  under  the  superintendence  of  an  overseer ;  but,  like 
many  an  owner  of  slaves  in  those  days,  he  was  a  most 
humane  master.  He  rarely  ever  purchased  a  slave.  The 
beginning  of  this  class  of  his  property  came  to  him  through 
marriage.  ^Yhen,  therefore,  his  female  servants  became  the 
wdves  of  neighboring  man-servants  not  belonging  to  his 
estate,  he  bought  the  latter  for  humanity's  sake ;  and  so  of 
the  case  when  his  men-servants  took  wives  from  abroad,  he 
purchased  their  wives,  his  object  being  to  bring  them  to  the 

119 


120  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D 

Same  home.  He  trained  the  children  of  his  colored  families 
as  he  did  his  own,  by  catechetical  instruction  on  Sabbath 
evenings.  He  was  so  humane  in  his  treatment  of  the  ser- 
vants on  his  farm  that  no  cruel  treatment  was  ever  known  or 
permitted,  and  every  r-easonable  liberty  was  allowed  them. 
So  generally  was  this  known  to  be  a  principle  of  his  man- 
agement that  the  remark  was  once  re^^orted  as  being  made 
by  a  large  planter  of  less  strict  notions  on  the  subject,  that 
"Dr.  Waddel's  treatment  of  his  slaves  was  calculated  to 
ruin  all  the  negroes  in  the  neighborhood."  The  reply  to 
this  reproachful  criticism  was :  "  Well,  I  suppose  I  will  be 
able  to  answer  for  that."  He,  therefore,  was  not  what  was 
known  as  a  very  successful  planter.  Still,  while  he  was 
always  liberal  in  his  mode  of  living,  and  possessed  a  good 
estate,  w^holly  unencumbered,  by  his  economical  management 
•of  his  private  affairs  he  made  his  family  comfortable,  with- 
vout  superfluous  luxury. 

Dr.  Waddel  had  scarcely  become  settled  in  his  new  home- 
stead when  he  was  called,  in  the  providence  of  God,  to  part 
with  his  beloved  wife,  the  mother  of  his  children,  who  had 
been  the  devoted  companion  of  thirty  laborious  years  of  his 
life,  the  sharer  of  all  his  joys  and  sorrows,  and  his  earthly 
support  and  comfort  in  all  his  trials.  On  the  4th  of  April, 
1830,  on  the  Lord's  day,  Mrs.  Eliza  Woodson  Waddel  closed 
her  life  of  bodily  suffering,  surrounded  by  a  weeping  and 
devoted  family,  and  entered  into  that  "  rest  that  remaineth 
for  the  people  of  God."  For  many  years  she  had  been 
struggling  with  disease  and  pain,  which  baffled  the  skill  of 
the  eminent  physicians  who  attended  her,  striving  to  miti- 
gate her  sufferings.  The  disease  from  which  she  had  been 
so  long  a  patient  sufferer  had,  within  a  few  years  previous  to 
her  death,  developed  into  cancer,  and,  just  two  years  before, 
she  had  undergone  a  surgical  operation,  performed  by  Drs. 
Anthony  and  "Watkins,  two  eminent  surgeons  of  Augusta, 
Ga.,  by  which  she  had  been,  to  sojne  extent,  relieved ;  but 


Continued  Interest  in  Teaching.  121 

the  relief  proved  to  be  only  temporary  and  partial,  and  can- 
cer renewed  its  ravages  at  some  other  point  of  the  system, 
and  its  deadly  work  soon  proved  to  be  beyond  the  reach  of 
remedies.  Constantly  waxing  more  and  more  feeble,  the 
"wasted  body  yielded  to  the  intolerable  violence  of  the  fearful 
malady,  until,  overborne  by  it,  the  ransomed  spirit  aban- 
doned "  the  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  "  in  its  dissolu- 
tion, and  entered  the  building  of  God,  the  "house  not  made 
with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens,"  a  mansion  prepared  for 
her  by  the  Sa^•iour. 

Part  of  Dr.  Waddel's  plan  in  returning  to  South  Caxohna 
was  to  devote  himself  more  continuously  to  preaching,  and 
to  make  that  the  chief  work  of  his  last  days.  He  never  did 
wholly  divest  himself  of  his  interest  in  that  other  depart- 
ment of  usefulness  to  which  he  had  given  so  many  years  of 
his  Jn:e — practical  teaching.  While,  therefore,  he  did  not 
propose  to  enter  the  class-room  himself  professionally,  his 
purpose  was  to  have  a  school  opened  ab  once  under  his  gene- 
ral superintendence,  and  to  have  the  duties  of  daily  instruc 
tion  performed  by  another.  On  the  1st  day  of  March,  ac- 
cordingly, such  a  school  was  opened  and  placed  under  the 
direct  charge  of  his  son,  a  youth  not  quite  eighteen  years  of 
age,  and  it  was  continued  afterwards  under  the  joint  charge 
of  this  teacher  and  the  eldest  son  of  Dr.  "Waddel,  imtil  it  was 
closed  by  the  removal  of  both  to  other  fields  of  labor.  So 
long  as  this  school  was  in  operation  Dr.  Waddel  was  deeply  in- 
terested in  its  success,  using  his  influence  in  its  favor,  doing 
no  teaching  except  incidentally,  but  giving  the  benefit  of  his 
wise  counsel  and  long  experience.  The  school  prospered 
for  a  time,  and  was  patronized  extensively  throughout  the 
States  of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia;  but  the  providences 
of  God  were  such  as  to  bring  it  to  a  close,  as  may  be  ex- 
plained hereafter.  Meanwhile,  his  prominent  purpose  of 
employing  his  time  mainly  in  preaching  was  in  successful 
progress.     He  was  very  soon  placed  in  charge  of  the  Will- 


122  Moses  Waddel,  D.  D. 

ington  cliurcli,  near  his  residence,  and  of  Bocky  River 
church,  some  seventeen  miles  distant.  To  these  two  churches 
he  preached  regularly,  as  Stated  Supply,  on  alternate  Sal3- 
baths;  but  while  he  punctually  and  promptly  met  all  his 
appointments  with  them  on  ordinars'  occasions,  he  was  by 
no  means  confined  to  them  as  his  field  of  ministerial  work. 

Be.  Waddel  as  a  Peace-Maker. 

As  an  illustration  of  Dr.  Waddel's  peculiarity  of  tempera- 
ment as  a  "peace-maker,"  the  following  incident  was  fur- 
nished me  by  the  Eev.  J.  O.  Lindsay,  D.  D.,  of  Due  West, 
Abbeville  Co.,  S.  C.  The  Dr.  is  one  of  the  successors  of  Dr. 
Waddel  in  the  ministry  at  Willington,  and  this  case  was 
communicated  to  him,  not  long  since,  by  a  very  aged  gen- 
tleman (over  ninety  years  old)  who,  sixty  years  ago,  was  one 
of  Dr.  Waddel's  congregation,  and  a  member  of  the  Wilhng- 
ton  church.  The  Dr.,  in  his  thoughtful  kindness,  felt  that 
it  would  afford  me  gratification  to  know  of  it,  and  I  am 
greatly  obhged  to  him  for  ha\dng  communicated  it  to  me. 

"About  the  year  referred  to  (1831)  there  was  a  notorious 
controversy  in  j)rogi'ess  between  the  Arminians  and  Cal- 
vinists  in  the  county  of  Abbeville,  and  consequently  much 
bitter  feeling  was  excited  and  expressed.  Glenn  was  the 
name  of  a  Methodist  minister,  who  had  charge  of  a  church, 
and  near  to  him  was  a  church  of  the  denomination  of  Se- 
ceders,  of  which  a  minister,  by  name  Porter,  waa  pastor, 
the  name  of  this  church  being  'Cedar  Springs.*  For 
several  weeks  these  ministers  had  given  prominence  to  the 
'Five  Points'  in  their  pulpit  services.  What  one  would 
say  in  his  sermon  would  be  reported  by  some  hearer  to  the 
other,  and  the  latter  would  reply  to  it  on  the  next  Sabbath. 
This  state  of  things  continued  for  some  time — at  least  until 
a  great  deal  of  excitement  had  been  stirred  up,  and  at 
length  it  was  determined  by  these  two  ministers  and  their 
friends,  to  hold  a  public  debate  on  the  matters  controverted 


As  A  Peace-Maker.  123 

between  them.     This  meeting  was  appointed  to  be  held  at 
Cedar  Springs.     The  comminiity  was  greatly  excited,  and  a 
large  crowd  was  expected  to  be  present.     Dr.  AYaddel  had 
heard  of  all  this,  and  was  impressed  with  the  conviction  that 
such  a  debate  would  do  no  good,  but  might  result  in  much 
e^-il.     Accordingly  he  convened  his  Session,  and  laid  the 
matter  before  his  faithful  counsellors,  and  asked  them  to 
consider  whether  they  could  not  do  something  to  prevent 
the  great  scandal  to  true  rehgion,  which  he  felt  assm'ed 
would  result  from  the  debate,  if  the  expected  programme 
should  be  carried  out.     After  some  discussion  it  was  de- 
cided to  request  Dr.  AVaddel  to  attend  the  contemplated 
meeting,  and  endeavor  to  stop  the  debate,  and  allay  the 
bitter  feeling  that  had  been  aroused.     Two  or  three  of  the 
elders  were  also  appointed  to  accompany  Dr.  Waddel. 

"On  the  day  a]3pointed  they  attended  at  Cedar  Springs, 
and  found  a  large  and  excited  crowd  present.  Dr.  Waddel 
and  his  elders  got  together  the  ministers,  Glenn  and  Porter, 
with  a  few  of  their  respective  friends,  at  a  private  conference 
before  the  public  seiwices  began.  Dr.  AYaddel  presented 
his  views  on  the  proposed  debate.  He  was  firmly  persuaded 
that  it  would  intensify  the  bitter  feeling,  of  which  there  had 
already  been  too  much  aroused,  and  would  not  advance  the 
cause  of  true  rehg-ion.  Considerable  discussion  of  the  matter 
ensued,  and  Dr.  Waddel  succeeded  in  impressing  his  views 
upon  the  two  ministers  and  their  friends,  and  it  was  at  last 
decided  to  give  up  the  expected  debate. 

''Dr.  Waddel  was  asked  to  preach  to  the  large  assemblage, 
which  he  did,  and  the  occasion  passed  off  pleasantly  and 
profitably ;  far  more  so  than  it  probably  would  have  done 
if  the  debate  had  been  held. 

"A  profound  impression  was  made  ui^on  the  community 
by  this  incident.  Dr.  Waddel's  clear  views,  quiet  dignity, 
and  Christian  deportment,  as  weU  as  the  sermon  preached, 
were  lono-  remembered  and  talked  of  in  the  homes  of  both 


124  Moses  ^Vaddel,  D.  D. 

the  Seceders  and  the  Methodists  of  the  ^shole  region;  and 
Dr.  Waddel  and  his  elders  felt  that  they  had  done  good 
service  that  day  as  peace-makers." 

Occasionally  he  visited  distant  churches  in  the  districts  of 
Newberry,  Laurens,  and  Anderson,  adjoining  Abbeville,  to 
assist  his  brethren  in  communion  meetings,  and  sometimes 
to  vacant  and  destitute  places.  As  he  resided  not  far  from 
the  Savannah  river,  the  dividing  boundary  line  between 
South  Carolina  and  Georgia,  he  was  often  invited  to  visit 
the  churches  in  Lincoln  county,  Ga.,  which  lay  opposite  his 
residence,  where  he  had  many  old  friends.  Yet  he  always 
felt  peculiar  interest  in  AVillington  and  Rocky  Eiver  churches, 
as  his  appropriate  fields  of  pastoral  work.  Two  things  are 
worthy  of  note  in  this  connection:  first,  he  did  a  good  deal 
of  pastoral  visiting  among  the  people  of  his  charge ;  second, 
these  visits  were  hardly  ever  closed  without  his  engaging  in 
jDrayer  with  the  families  visited.  His  journal  (kept  through 
his  life  until  he  could  no  longer  hold  a  pen)  records  many 
visits  to  the  bedsides  of  his  dying  parishioners  and  the  fune- 
ral services  conducted  by  him.  "When  the  needful  travel  is 
taken  into  consideration,  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  the 
work  he  performed  was  fully  as  faithful  and  laborious  as  the 
work  of  most  pastors  of  our  city  and  town  churches.  He 
records  thirty-three  marriage  ceremonies  performed  by  him 
in  the  space  of  three  or  four  years  in  the  region  round  about 
him.  He,  of  course,  conducted  communion  meetings  with 
both  of  his  churches  at  regular  intervals.  These  meetings 
began  on  Thursday  or  Friday  previous  to  the  communion 
Sabbath,  and  consisted  of  two  sermons  daily,  and  sometimes 
one  at  night,  and  the  meeting  did  not  close  generally  on 
Sabbath,  but  there  was  always  a  service  on  Monday,  which 
was  considered  the  closing  service.  None  of  these  com- 
munion occasions  ever  occurred  without  the  presence  of 
some  neighboring  minister,  to  assist  the  preacher  in  charge 
of  the  church  where  the  meeting  was  held.     These  gather- 


His  Last  Days.  125 

ings  Tvere  always  haiDpy  and  joyful  in  their  influence  upon 
him  and  liis  people.  Those  ministers,  with  whom  he  loved 
to  interchange  these  fraternal  visitations  were  such  men  as 
Rev.  Dr.  Barr,  of  Upper  Long  Cane  church;  Eev.  Hugh 
Dixon,  of  Rock  church;  Rev.  David  Humphreys,  of  Ander- 
son District.  Sometimes  he  had  with  him  brethren  from 
distant  parts  of  Georgia.  Among  them  were  Rev.  Drs. 
Church  and  Hoyt,  of  Athens,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Talmage,  of  Au- 
gusta. Rev.  Dr.  Daniel  Baker  once  conducted  a  protracted 
meeting  at  Willington  church.  Besides,  both  of  his  churches 
were  visited  by  the  agents  of  the  Boards  of  Foreign  and 
Domestic  Missions,  the  American  Bible  Society,  and  the 
Colonization  Society.  It  is  seen  from  this  running  record 
that  his  peoj^le,  though  strictly  country  churches,  enjoyed 
every  possible  privilege  and  advantage  of  a  religious  nature 
possible  to  be  obtained  in  the  country  at  that  period  of  our 
history.  As  he  grew  older,  however,  he  often  found  himself 
fatigued  by  the  long  journeys  he  frequently  performed,  and 
sometimes  the  inclement  weather  to  which  he  was  neces- 
sarily exposed  produced  temporary  illness. 

The  circumstances  under  which  his  first  attack  of  paraly- 
sis occurred  are  well  remembered  by  this  writer.  Dr.  AVad- 
del  had  just  retm-ned  from  one  of  his  preaching  tours  on  the 
evening  of  Sej)tember  5,  1836,  the  Rev.  Isaac  AV.  Waddel 
and  the  writer  being  at  his  house  on  a  visit.  \\e  retired 
early  in  the  evening,  after  tea,  observing  nothing  unusual  in  his 
appearance  or  manner.  About  the  dawn  of  the  6th  of  Se-p- 
tember,  as  the  brothers  awoke  in  the  ux:)per  chamber,  where 
they  had  passed  the  night,  they  heard  a  very  unnaturrd 
sound  that  seemed  to  proceed  from  his  bed-room,  :.p]^r.rently 
an  ineffectual  effort  on  his  part  to  articulate.  Hastening 
down,  they  found  him  still  in  l)ed.  In  broken  accents  he 
managed  to  communicate  that  he  had,  with  great  difficulty, 
attempted  to  rise,  but  found  that  he  had  lost  the  use  of  his 
right  side  entirely.    His  faithful  family  physician  and  friend, 


126  Moses  Waddel,  33.  D. 

Dr.  Nathaniel  Harris,  a  near  neighbor,  was  speedily  sum- 
moned, and,  on  examination,  j)ronounced  it  a  combination 
of  paralysis  and  apoplexy.  He  rapidly  sank  into  a  stupor, 
and  as  Dr.  HaiTis  declared  there  was  pressing  necessity  for 
a  consulting  physician  in  this  alarming  state  of  the  case, 
Dr.  Eichardson,  a  very  eminent  physician  of  Elbert  county, 
Oa.,  was  sent  for  and  arrived  at  the  close  of  the  day.  Under 
the  skillful  treatment  adopted  by  these  two  physicians,  he 
was  so  far  relieved,  after  lingering  for  three  weeks  in  a  per- 
fectly helpless  condition,  during  a  part  of  ■s^hich  he  was  in  a 
comatose  state,  he  began  slowly  to  rally,  and  was  gradually 
restored  to  consciousnes  and  to  some  degree  of  aHiculate- 
ness  of  speech.  But  to  all  around  him  it  was  very  readily 
seen  that  the  light  of  his  once  clear  intellect  was  now 
clouded,  and  that  he  was  but  a  shattered  wreck  of  his  for- 
mer self ;  so  he  hngered  from  the  6th  of  September,  1836, 
to  the  21st  of  July,  1840 — three  years  ten  months  and  fif- 
teen days.  These  last  years  were  spent  partly  at  his  home 
in  "Willington,  kindly  cared  for.  He  was  able  to  walk  with 
a  slow  and  unsteady  gait,  and  he  rode  a  great  deal  of  the 
time  when  the  weather  was  fine,  having  a  comfoi table  car- 
riage and  a  pair  of  gentle  horses,  with  a  faithful  body-ser- 
vant, who  attended  on  him  wherever  he  went.  This  kind  of 
]ife  continued  until  toward  the  close  of  the  year,  at  which 
time  all  of  his  children,  by  previous  concert,  met  at  his 
home  for  a  re-union,  that,  in  all  probabihty,  would  be  the 
last  they  should  ever  enjoy  in  his  presence,  considering  the 
condition  of  his  health  and  the  widely-scattered  places  of 
their  several  homes.  Then  came  his  final  earthh^  removal. 
His  estate  was  equitably  distributed,  reserving  an  amj^le 
support  for  him  and  j)rovision  for  his  comfort.  He  aban- 
doned his  old  home  and  removed  to  the  residence  of  his 
eldest  son,  Professor  James  P.  Waddel,  in  Athens,  Ga., 
where  his  last  days  passed,  as  peacefully  and  happily  as, 
under  his  personal  and  physical  condition,  was  possible.     It 


His  Last  Days.  127 

seemed  a  kind  arrangement  of  Divine  Providence  that  his 
closing  period  of  life  should  be  cast  in  such  cii'cumstances 
of  rest  and  freedom  from  care  and  resiwnsibility.  .There 
he  was  placed  in  the  midst  of  old  scenes  of  his  former  toils 
and  cares  in  happy  unconsciousness  of  both,  surrounded  by 
many  old  friends  who  visited  him  as  of  old,  adding  some- 
thing to  his  simple  and  childlike  enjo^-ment.  Day  by  day 
his  hold  upon  the  interests  of  this  world  was  waxing  more  and 
more  feeble,  until,  on  the  morning  of  July  21st,  as  the  dawn 
was  lighting  up  the  scene  and  banishing  the  shades  of 
night,  he  gently  and  calmly  sank  into  that  dreamless  sleep 
from  which  he  was  never  again  to  awake  until  the  morning 
of  the  resurrection,  when  "the  Lord  himself  shall  descend 
fi'om  heaven  "uith  a  shout,  with  the  voice  of  the  archangel 
and  the  trump  of  God,  and  the  dead  in  Christ  shall  rise." 


MEMORIAL  RECORD 


OF  THE 


LIFE,  LABORS  AND  CHARACTER 


OF 


WILLIAM  HENRY  WADDEL, 

PROFESSOE  OF  ANCIENT  LANGUAGES 


IN  THE 


UNIVERSITY    or   GEOEGIA 


129 


WILLIll  HENRY  WADDEL 


AS  a  fitting  sequel  to  the  foregoing  biography  of  Dr. 
Moses  Waddel,  in  which  is  included  a  sketch  of  the  life, 
character,  and  labors  of  Professor  James  Pleasants  "Waddel 
as  an  educator,  I  feel  that  it  would  be  unjust  to  the  memoiy 
of  one  who  inherited  the  capacity  and  adorned,  by  his  brief 
but  distinguished  life-work,  the  family  name  in  thek  ances- 
ti-al  career  as  educators,  to  omit  the  following  sketch  of 
Professor  Wilham  Hemy  AVaddel,  the  grandson  of  the  for- 
mer and  the  son  of  the  latter;  for  while  it  is  a  copy  of  the 
tribute  to  his  memory  adopted  by  his  brethren  of  the  Ses- 
sion, or  bench  of  elders,  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Athens,  Ga.,  it  is  a  truthful  portraiture  of  his  life  and 
labors  in  the  same  department  of  honorable  and  useful  ef- 
fort.    The  obituary  is  introduced  in  the  words  following, 

"viz.: 

"  September  29,  1878. 

"At  the  close  of  public  worship  to-day,  and  during  the 
officers'  prayer-meeting,  a  joint  meeting  of  the  elders  and 
deacons  of  the  chm'ch  was  held,  the  Pev.  C.  W.  Lane,  D.  D., 
Pastor,  presiding,  when  the  committee  a^^pointed  heretofore, 
through  Mr.  Howell  Cobb,  submitted  their  report  on  the 
character  and  death  of  Professor  William  Henry  Waddel. 
After  the  reading  of  the  report,  on  motion  of  Mr.  William 
L.  Mitchell,  it  was  adopted  and  ordered  to  be  spread  on  the 
minutes  of  the  session,  and  copies  furnished  Mrs.  Waddel, 
the  widow,  and  Miss  Waddel,  the  sister,  and  the  Souther?i 
JPresbyterian^  and  it  is  as  follows: 

131 


132  Professor  William  Henry  Waddel. 

"Professor  AYilliam  Hemy  Waddel  was  born  April  28, 
1834:,  at  Willington,  AbbeviUe  District,  S.  C,  and  died  at 
Milford,  Va.,  September  18,  1878.  He  was  graduated  from 
the  Universit}^  of  Georgia,  August,  1852,  with  the  degree  of 
A.  B.  From  1853  to  1858  he  was  a  tutor  in  the  University 
of  Georgia;  from  1858  to  18G0,  adjunct  Classical  Professor; 
from  18G0  to  1872,  Prof esp.or  of  Ancient  Languages;  from 
1872  to  1877,  Professor  of  the  Latin  Language  and  Litera- 
ture, and  from  1877  till  his  death,  Professor  of  Greek  and 
Latin.  He  made  a  profession  of  faith  July  21,  1855,  and 
was  ordained  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  chm'ch,  Athens, 
Ga.,  October  27,  18GG,  not  long  after  his  election  as  a  dea- 
con. His  death  was  sudden.  Returning  from  a  trip  north- 
ward for  the  improvement  of  his  health,  he  was  taken  sick 
on  the  train,  left  the  car  at  Milford,  Va.,  called  for  medical 
aid,  grew  rapidly  worse,  and,  in  less  than  an  hour,  expii'ed. 
His  remains  reached  this  city  on  Saturday,  September  21, 
1878,  and,  amid  the  tolling  of  the  church  bells,  were  borne 
to  the  cemetery.  On  Sabbath  morning  a  large  congrega- 
tion assembled  in  the  University  Chapel,  which  had  been 
draped  with  mourning  for  the  occasion.  Pastors  and  churches^ 
of  the  city,  sharing  a  common  grief,  met  together  to  parti- 
cipate in  the  memorial  services  of  the  day.  The  introduc- 
tory services  having  been  conducted  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Tucker,- 
late  Chancellor  of  the  University,  and  the  Eev.  Dr.  Potter, 
pastor  of  the  First  Methodist  chui'ch,  a  funeral  discourse 
was  delivered  by  the  Eev.  Dr.  Lane,  followed  by  an  address 
by  Rev.  Dr.  Lipscomb,  formerly  chancellor  of  the  University. 

"It  was  a  Sabbath  of  toucliing  recollections  and  of  heart- 
felt sorrow ;  for  he  whom  we  then  mourned  had  been  long 
and  closely  associated  in  all  our  thoughts  with  Sabbath 
worship  and  holy  duties.  Nor  can  our  affections  render 
him  a  truer  or  tenderer  tribute  than  to  connect  his  memory 
with  that  blessed  day  which  casts  its  resplendent  light  back- 
ward to  the  resurrection  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  forward  to 


Memorial  Resolutions.  133 

the  'rest'  that  'remaineth.'  No  one  could  know  Professor 
^Yaddel  Avitliout  feeling  the  force  of  his  natiu^e.  It  was  a 
nature  positive  in  eveiy  element  of  its  constitution,  so  direct, 
so  free  from  hesitancy  and  the  pause  of  irresolution,  as  to 
impress  every  one  with  the  instant  conviction  that  it  was 
the  fundamental  quality  of  his  inner  being.  The  quick 
energy  of  his  intellect,  the  ready  and  vigorous  will,  the 
j)rompt  use  of  his  resources,  were  not  so  much  acquired 
habits  as  a  native  endowment  fresh  from  the  hand  of  God, 
and  titting  his  servant  for  earnest  and  decisive  activity  in 
every  sphere  to  w^hich  Providence  called  him.  A  thoroughly 
self-determined  man,  he  always  relied,  under  God,  on  his 
own  judgment  and  the  supremacy  of  his  chosen  purpose  to 
accomplish  an  end  in  view.  AYith  others  he  worked  steadily 
and  cordially.  His  sympathies  moved  freely  in  any  direc- 
tion that  promised  benefit  to  the  church  and  the  community. 
But  in  every  entei'prise  of  usefulness,  and  especially  in  the 
routine  of  private  duty,  that  tests  more  than  anything  else 
the  sense  of  personal  responsibility,  the  marked  character- 
istic of  this  excellent  man  was  the  complete  control  that  his 
thoughts  and  sentiments,  as  an  indi^ndual,  had  over  his  ac- 
tions. Free  from  those  excesses  which  so  often  mark  a  mind 
of  great  decision,  his  strength  of  will  never  ran  into  wilfulness, 
nor  into  that  sharp  insistence  on  self  that  abases  hearty  co- 
operation with  others.  Though  highly  cultivated,  he  had  a 
matter-of-fact  intellect,  that  was  in  striking  harmony  with 
this  distinctive  cast  of  his  nature.  He  had  none  of  those 
illusions  which  so  frequently  mar  culture  and  talent.  His 
tastes,  admiration,  sentiments  were  all  shaped  towards 
whatever  was  obvious  and  practical.  He  indulged  in  no  ex- 
travagance of  thought.  He  had  no  unreasonable  expecta- 
tions, as  it  respected  either  other  persons  or  himself;  but, 
with  a  precision  eminently  wise  and  sagacious,  he  measured 
the  duties,  tasks,  and  responsibilities  of  life,  and  then  set 
himself,  with  an  unflinching  resolution,  to  meet  their  obU- 


134  Peofessok  William  Henry  Waddel. 

gations  to  the  utmost  scope  of  his  ability.  His  natural  tem- 
j)erament  was  singularly  impressible.  He  was  quiet  to  feel, 
and  feel  keenly.  Struggling  against  disease  nearly  all  his 
life,  he  never  allowed  those  involuntary  moods  which  spring 
from  intensity  of  nervous  action  to  overrule,  or  even  to 
weaken,  his  convictions  of  duty.  Often  these  shadows  lay 
upon  him,  but  they  affected  his  devotion  to  his  duties  no 
more  than  a  passing  cloud  leaves  its  image  on  a  summer 
landscape.  His  regular  attendance  on  all  the  services  of 
the  church,  week  day  as  well  as  Sabbath ;  his  unvarying  fi- 
delity for  so  many  years  to  tho  Sabbath-school  and  to  tha 
young  men's  Bible  class;  his  scrupulous  care  as  to  the  man- 
ner in  which  all  his  work  was  prepared,  even  to  the  smallest 
detail;  aud  his  constant  and  eager  solicitude  to  build  him- 
self up  by  means  of  toil  and  sacrifice  to  a  higher  and  more 
consecrated  manhood  in  Christ  Jesus :  all  these  were  signal 
features  of  his  character  and  life,  known  and  appreciated 
by  the  whole  membership  of  the  church.  A  more  trust- 
worthy man;  one  more  intent  on  serving  all  the  interests  of 
Christianity  in  the  offices  of  the  church  and  in  the  outward 
field  of  religious  activity ;  one  more  reliable  for  his  share  in 
bearing  the  burdens  and  meeting  the  exigencies  of  personal 
and  official  trust,  has  never  lived  in  our  midst.  And  espe- 
cially as  an  office-bearer  in  the  church  will  his  example  sur- 
vive in  our  memory  and  affections.  Here  the  grace  of 
Christ,  the  head  of  the  chui'ch,  shone  forth  in  him  with  a 
lustre,  growing  brighter  as  his  years  multiplied.  Here  he 
was  'instant  in  season  and  out  of  season.'  Here  he  was 
ready  for  'every  good  word  and  work,'  and  here  most  truly 
may  it  be  said  of  him : 

"  'Thy  heart, 
The  lowliest  diaties  on  herself  did  lay, ' 

"One  of  Professor  "NYaddel's  most  striking  qualities  was 
his  profound  sense  of  the  supreme  importance  of  truthful- 
ness in  everything.     It  was  a  quality  of  intellect  no  less 


Memorial  Resolutions.  135 

than  of  liis  moral  nature,  resting  on  that  deep  instinct  of 
reality  which  was  so  conspicuous  in  his  organization.     All 
the  virtues  that  group  themselves  around  this  vital  centre, 
such  as   honesty,  candor,  frankness,  were   exhibited   con- 
stantly in  his  intercourse  with  society.     And  the  same  ex- 
cellencies distinguished  his  Christian  experience.     To  deal 
sincerely  and  faithfully  with  himself;  to  protect  his  judg- 
ment from  the  intrusions  of  imagination;  to  guard  his  con- 
science from  the  flattery  of  false  hopes  and  the  deceits  of 
self-love,  and  to  know  his  heart,  as  that  heart  was  always  be- 
neath God's  all-searching  eye ;  this  was  the  purpose  that> 
always  seemed  to  He  nearest  his  soul.     Such  a  man,  brought 
under  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  could  not  be  otherwise 
than  deeply  sensible  of  the  evil  of  sin,  of  inborn  corruption, 
of  entire  alienation  from  God,  and,  in  the  same  degree,  con- 
scious  of  the  infinite  need  of  Christ  Jesus  and  his  righteous- 
ness; but  of  that  profound  consciousness  what  a  beautiful 
humihty;  what  a  calm  and  strong  and  reahzing  faith;  what 
divine  assurance  of  acceptance;  what  growing  reconcihation 
to  the  cross  of  suffering;  what  heavenly  aspirations  for  com- 
plete likeness  to  Jesus,  rose  in  ever-increasing  fulness  of 
strength  and  blessedness ! 

"All  his  mature  Ufe  was  passed  in  the  service  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Georgia.  What  Professor  AVaddel  was  to  his 
Alma  Mater,  and  through  her  to  Georgia  and  to  the  coun- 
try, is  too  well  known  to  require  any  extended  account  from 
us.  Endowed  by  Pro\4dence  with  an  intellect  of  rare  force 
and  comprehensiveness ;  capable  of  making  the  largest  ac- 
quisitions of  knowledge,  and  equally  competent  to  retain 
and  use  them  with  the  utmost  skill;  his  inclinations  and  his 
sensibihties  all  in  closest  sympathy  with  his  profession;  a 
man,  indeed,  who  seemed  to  have  been  created  for  this  specific 
vocation,— how  fully  content  was  he  in  this  sphere  of  activity; 
how  fervently  he  loved  the  work,  and  how  heartily  did  he 
consecrate  himself  to  its  tasks!     And  what  an  impress  aa 


136  Pkofessor  William  Henry  Waddel. 

to  breadth  and  enduringness  has  he  left  on  the  University, 
and  on  scores  of  j'oimg  men  ^who  have  been  enriched  and 
ennobled  by  the  high  aims  and  refined  culture  caught  from 
the  glow  and  quickening  of  his  inspiring  soul ! 

"And  now  that  our  hearts  are  smitten  to  the  dust  by  this 
sore  bereavement,  we  recall,  with  deep  thankfulness  to 
Almight}'  God,  our  Father,  that  one  so  true,  so  conscientious 
in  every  relation  of  life,  so  steadfast  in  principle,  so  heroic 
in  sentiment,  so  highly  gifted,  and  yet  so  faithful  in  using 
his  grand  gifts  for  the  glory  of  his  Maker  and  Redeemer, 
was  permitted  to  Hve  in  our  midst  and  leave  to  us  an  ex- 
ample of  such  transcendent  worth.  As  men  reason,  it  is 
unutterably  sad  to  see  such  genius  and  Christian  goodness 
iall  suddenly  from  the  zenith  of  its  career  to  the  grave !  But 
God's  thoughts  of  men  and  their  uses  are  not  our  thoughts, 
nor  are  his  ways  om*  ways.  "Whether  he  gives  or  takes  away, 
the  language  of  oiu:  hearts  should  be  ever,  '  Blessed  be  his 
holy  name ! '" 

To  the  foregoing  I  beg  to  add  the  following  extract  of  a 
letter  written  on  occasion  of  a  correspondence  between  my- 
self and  his  pastor,  Kev.  C.  W.  Lane,  D.  D.,  in  regard  to 
Professor  Waddel: 

"1  never  knew  a  more  active  chm'ch  officer  and  Christian 
-worker  than  was  Professor  W.  H.  Waddel — prompt  to  at- 
tend special  meetings,  wise  in  counsel,  and  ever  ready  to 
discharge  any  duties  assigned  him,  either  as  an  elder  or  a 
deacon.  He  was  also  an  able  instructor  in  the  Sabbath- 
school,  having  a  large  class  of  young  men  for  years ;  an  ever- 
ready  and  edifying  leader  of  prayer -meetings,  and  at  times 
lie  conducted  services  for  vacant  country  churches  near  our 
city.  He  most  happily  blended  in  his  life  a  rare  excellency 
as  a  professor  w^th  a  rare  diligence  as  a  Christian  worker. 
*He  being  dead,  yet  speaketli,'  was  my  text  at  his  funeral. 


Memorial  Notices.  137 

*'  The  best  lesson  of  his  Hfe  seems  to  me  to  be,  that  high 
success  in  an  honorable  and  useful  vocation  need  not  prevent 
an  active  and  wide  usefulness  in  Christian  work.  He  was 
an  exceptionally  able  and  earnest  professor.  He  was  also 
an  exceptionally  able  and  earnest  Christian  worker.  Whether 
with  scholarly  enthusiasm  discharging  his  duties  as  a  pro- 
fessor, or  with  afiectionate  tenderness  telling  the  story  of 
the  cross  in  a  cottage  prayer-meeting,  among  the  humble 
poor  or  among  the  cultivated  and  refined,  he  was  ever  a 
splendid  example  of  gifted  and  cultivated  manhood.  When 
the  Master  called  him  home,  truly  '  a  prince  and  a  great 
man  fell  in  Israel! '  One  of  the  strong  pillars  on  which  I 
leaned  as  pastor  was  taken  away  when  this  brother  beloved 
passed  within  the  veil !  .  .  .  . 

"  (Signed)  C.  W.  Lane. 

In  testimony  of  his  reputation  as  a  professor,  an  extract 
from  a  letter  to  myself  from  the  venerable  and  beloved  ex- 
President  of  Davidson  College,  Eev.  Dr.  Eobert  H.  Morri- 
son, of  North  Carolina,  written  in  August,  1860,  when  Pro- 
fessor Waddel  was  only  twenty-six  years  of  age : 

"  On  the  strength  of  your  nomination,  we  elected  your 
nephew^  Professor  W.  H.  AVaddel,  Professor  of  Greek  Litera- 
ture in  our  college,  and  I  will  regard  it  as  an  act  of  kind- 
ness if  you  will  exert  your  influence  to  induce  him  to  accept 
the  same.  We  had  no  letter  or  credentials  fi'om  him,  and  I 
supposed  the  time  might  be  too  short  to  receive  them. 

"  (Signed)  E.  H.  Moerison." 

Professor  Waddel  was  not  a  candidate,  and  respectfully 
dechned  to  accept  the  chair.  He  preferred  to  give  his  ser- 
vices to  his  Alma  Mater. 


APPENDIX. 


No.  1. 

On  a  mural  tablet  over  the  pulpit  of  the  Presbj'terian  Churcli.  at 
Willington,  in  Abbeville  County,  South  Carolina,  tlie  following, 
is  inscribed  : 

fn  Memory  of 

THE  REVEKEND  AND  LEAENED 

MOSES  WADDEL,  D.  D., 

The  Fouxdek  of  this  Chuech,  in  the  yeae  1813. 

"  Who  was  faithful  to  Him  idio  appointed  him." 

Presented  to  ttie  cliurcli  by  Mrs.  Burt. 


Mural  tablet 

No.  II. 
In  rear  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  pulpit,  of  the  city  of  Athens,  Ga. 

In  Blentortntn* 

REV.  MOSES  WADDEL,  D.  D. 

BoKN  IN  Iredell  County,  Noeth  Caeolina,  July  29,  1770. 

While   President   of   the   University   of   Georgia,    he   organized   this 
Church,  December  25,  1820,  and  for  ten  years  was  its  minister. 

Died  in  Athens,  Georgia,  Judy  21,  1840. 

Preacher  and  Teacher. 

In  each  office,  forgetting  self  and  aiming  only  at  the  glory  of  the  Re- 
deemer, he  evinced  the  possibility  of  making  both  subservient 
to  that  great  end.     Eminent  for  piety,   illustrious 
for    services,    the   full    measure   of    years 
allotted  to  man  crowned  his  life. 
138 


mural  IKahlet 

Xo.  III. 

In  the  new  cemetery  at  Athens,  Ga. ,  near  the  entrance,  there  stands 
a  plain  granite  shaft, 

ERECTED  BY  THE  PHI  IvAPPA  SOCIETY 

OF  THE   UNIVEEI[iITY, 

%n  Htcmorg  of 

DR.  MOSES  WADDEL, 
PROF.  JAMES  P.  WADDEL, 

His  Son. 

PROF.  WM.  HENRY  WADDEL, 

His  Gbandson. 


On  the  western  face  of  this  shaft  : 

MOSES    WADDEL,    D.  D., 

BoKN,  JiLY  28,  1770, 

Died,  July  21,  1840. 

President  of  the  Universitj"  of  Georgia,  from  1819-1829. 


On  the  southern  face  of  the  shaft: 

PROF.    J.    P.    WADDEL, 

BoBN  IN  Columbia  Co.,  Ga.,  Januaey  5,  1801, 
Died  in  Athens,  Ga.,  May  26,  1867. 


On  the  northern  face  of  the  shaft : 

PROF.    W.    H.    WADDEL, 

BoBN,  Abbeville  DisTEicT,  S.  C,  Apbll  28,  1834, 
Died,  Milfoed,  Va.,  September  18,  1878. 

139 


PRIVATE  AND  EDUCATIONAL 

LIFE  AND  LABORS 


OF 


JOHN  N.  WADDEL,  D.  D.,  LL  D. 


WRITTEN  BY  HIMSELF. 


^<sissusrfi5 


JOHNN.  WADDEL,  D.D.,  LLD. 


CHAPTEE    I. 

BrRTH  AND  Some  Reminiscences  of  My  First  Seven  Yeabs. 

I  AM  the  youngest  of  six  children  of  the  Eev.  Moses  Wad- 
del,  D.  T>.,  and  Mrs.  Eliza  Woodson  (nee  Pleasants) 
Waddel.  I  was  born  on  the  2d  of  April,  1812,  and  entered 
this  world  on  the  same  day  wdth  a  sister,  and  hence  I  am 
one  cf  twins.  Our  birthplace  was  Willington,  Abbeville 
District,  S.  C,  known  Avidely  as  the  location  of  a  once  cele- 
brated academy,  where  my  father  superintended  the  scholas- 
tic training  of  many  of  the  most  distinguished  men  of 
South  Carolina  and  Georgia.  The  place  itself  has  no  higher 
claim  to  celebrity  than  just  the  fact  that  many  great  char- 
acters in  all  the  professions  attended  their  preparatoiy 
course  of  stud}'  at  that  spot.  There  was  no  extensive  and 
populous  mart  of  commerce  to  be  found  under  that  name, 
but  only  such  an  inconsiderable  hamlet  as,  naturally  and 
by  necessity,  would  gradually  grow  around  a  prosperous  in- 
stitution of  learning,  and  which  would  fui'nish  articles  of 
school  use  for  the  students  from  abroad.  It  was,  in  other 
words,  only  a  country  place,  and  constituted  a,  centre  of  at- 
traction for  a  considerable  number  of  Scotch-Iiish  and 
French  Presbyterians,  descendants  of  the  Huguenots,  not 
only  for  the  advantages  of  the  academ}^  but  also  on  account 
of  the  pri^ileges  of  the  church.  These  were  a  race  of  intel- 
ligent and  high-toned  citizens,  residing  in  the  neighborhood 

143 


144  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

"which  covered,  at  that  time,  a  territory  of  some  ten  or  fif- 
teen miles  in  circumference,  whose  farms  furnished  an 
abundant  supply  of  the  products  of  a  soil  then  compara- 
tively fresh. 

In  a  former  sketch,  giving  a  cursory  view  of  my  father's^ 
domestic  life,  I  described  the  natui'e  of  the  disciphne  under 
which  his  children  were  reared,  and,  in  so  doing,  I  en- 
deavored to  point  out  the  peculiar  traits  of  my  father  and 
those  of  my  mother,  and  to  show  how,  by  harmonious  co- 
operation, they  succeeded  in  making  a  Avise  combination  of 
their  diverse  temperaments,  resulting  in  the  most  effective 
system  of  family  training.  It  will  not  be  necessary  to  re- 
turn to  that  topic,  save  only  to  refer  the  reader  to  that 
sketch.  I  will  state,  however,  that  the  fact  of  my  father's 
time  and  attention  having  been  so  comj^letely  absorbed  by 
the  claims  of  an  extensive  and  enlarged  public  service  at 
the  period  of  my  childhood,  rendered  it  almost  impossible 
for  him  to  bestow  so  much  of  his  care  and  observation  on 
the  training  of  the  younger  members  of  the  family  as  upon 
those  who  were  more  advanced  in  years;  consec[uently  I 
was  left  more  to  the  immediate  supervision  of  my  mother, 
though  not  without  the  general  superintendence  of  my  father. 
I  suppose,  too,  that  I  may  state,  that  my  having  attained 
only  my  eighth  year  at  the  period  of  his  removal  from  AVill- 
ington  to  the  University  of  Georgia  accounts  for  the  fact 
that  I  was  never  a  student  of  the  Willington  Academy. 
Indeed,  I  never  made  a  recitation  to  him  uutil  in  my  junior 
and  senior  years  in  the  University,  when  the  class  had  come 
regularly  to  the  studies  of  moral  science  and  logic.  But 
my  school-days  in  the  earlier  time  were  passed  in  the  pur- 
suit of  the  simplest  elements  of  English.  I  recall  the  fact 
now  that  at  that  time  my  days  passed  noiselessly  along,  and 
though,  perhaps,  only  negatively  happy,  I  was,  at  any  rate, 
free  from  care;  and,  in  the  company  of  my  mother  and  my 
sisters,  my  life  wore  on  as  merrily  as  those  of  other  childi'en* 


Childhood's  Years.  145 

I  loved  my  home.  I  loved  the  deep,  shady,  magnificent  old 
groves,  the  grass  and  moss-covered  meadow  just  below  the 
hill,  on  which  stood  "  the  house  where  I  was  born,"  the 
sandy  lane  in  front,  the  fences  of  the  farm,  overgrown  with 
vines,  the  huge  apple-trees  in  the  yard,  and  the  great  barn, 
a  structure  only  less  imposing  than  the  dwelling  house.  I 
was  deeply  interested  in  watching  the  travelers,  Avith  their 
vehicles  of  varied  forms — carriages,  wagons,  carts,  and 
horses — passing  along  the  highway  to  and  fro,  the  market 
road  leading  to  Augusta,  Ga.,  on  their  journey  to  that  great 
w^orld,  of  which  I  then  knew  nothing,  and  about  which  I. 
cared  (if  possible)  still  less.  All  the  localities  to  which  I 
had  access  in  those  days  of  simplicity  and  freedom  from 
care  were  invested  with  a  nameless  fascination  for  me,  such 
as  no  other  place  on  earth  has  ever  possessed  since,  or  can 
ever  possess  again. 

The  most  important  event  of  my  life  at  that  period  was, 
that  then  I  began  to  attend  mj  first  school  as  a  pupil.  It 
was  a  private  school,  taught  in  my  father's  house.  This 
school  consisted  of  his  younger  children,  my  two  sisters 
and  myself,  taught  by  a  young  candidate  (or  licentiate)  for 
the  ministry,  by  name  James  Hillhouse,  who  did  not  remain 
long.  Of  his  subsequent  history  I  only  know  that  he  went 
to  Alabama,  and,  as  a  pioneer  of  the  gospel  ministry,  he 
laid,  with  other  zealous  preachers,  the  broad  and  deep 
foundations  of  the  church  in  that  then  newl^'-settled  coun- 
try; and  although  he  has  long  since  ceased  from  his  labors 
and  been  called  to  his  rest,  the  fruit  abides  in  the  gathering 
of  an  abundant  harvest. 

I  must  have  attained  at  that  time  an  age  not  exceeding 
five  years.  Not  long  after  that  my  father  was  induced 
to  change  his  residence  from  the  old  homestead  to  the 
little  hamlet  of  Willington,  distant  about  a  mile  south,  as 
more  promising  of  health  for  his  family.  Here  we  resumed 
our  attendance  on  school  duties  in  a  log  cabin,  which  had 


146  John  N.  AVaddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

been  erected  as  a  summer  cottage  by  some  one  wlio  had 
left  it.  It  was  now  fitted  up  as  a  scliool-room  and  made 
quite  comfortable,  and,  instead  of  being  a  private  family 
school,  it  became  a  public  neighborhood  school,  and  was 
pretty  fairly  patronized.  It  is  a  great  pleasure  to  me  to  re- 
call the  teacher  who  then  took  chai'ge  of  this  school.  Rev. 
David  Humphreys,  "so  long  the  pastor  of  Good  Hoj)e  and 
Roberts,"  as  recorded  by  Dr.  Howe  in  the  History  of  the 
Freshyteriaii  Church  in  South  Carolina,  and  who  spent  his 
useful,  long  life  within  the  limits  of  the  Presbytery  of  South 
Carolina,  and  died,  full  of  years  and  universally  beloved,  in 
1869,  was  the  teacher  of  this,  which  was  my  second  school. 
Here,  and  under  the  instruction  of  this  excellent  man,  I 
learned  to  read,  and  he  it  was  who  gave  me  my  first  lessons 
in  penmanship.  The  extent  of  my  education  in  this  place 
only  covered  the  simplest  rudiments  of  English,  embracing 
spelling,  reading,  and  writing ;  but  I  well  remember  that 
the  Bible  was  a  prominent  text-book  in  that  school.  This 
brings  to  mind  an  incident  that  made  an  impression  upon 
me  at  that  time,  and  still  holds  its  place  in  memory  very 
deeply.  On  a  certain  day,  after  the  daily  exercises  were 
finished,  and  the  pupils  had  all  left  the  school-house  and 
had  gone  home,  we  w^ere  startled  by  the  announcement  that 
the  building  was  on  fire !  This  house  was  in  view  of  my 
father's  dwelling,  and  I  can  readily  bring  to  mind  the  terror 
that  I  felt  at  the  sight  of  the  flame  that  shot  uj)  in  angry 
sheets  of  fire  toward  the  sky,  and  how  the  thought  that  gave 
me  most  concern  was  that  my  Bible  would  be  burned  up ! 
But  sad  as  this  disaster  seemed,  it  had  not  the  effect  of  put- 
ting the  school  to  an  end,  for  another  humble  building 
was  soon  found  hard  by,  which  was  quickly  pressed  into 
service  and  made  to  answer  the  purpose  as  long  as  was 
necessary  until  better  arrangements  could  be  made.  Om* 
teacher,  who  had  been  engaged  in  the  studies  preparatory 
to  the  ministry,  under  my  father's  instruction,  soon  after 


Eakly  School  Days.  147 

tliis  was  licensed  and  left  for  his  field  of  labor.  I  may  not 
dismiss  the  mention  of  this  beloved  man  without  adding 
that  his  ministerial  labors  were  continued  very  nearly  in  the 
same  field,  with  small  exception,  for  the  space  of  about  fifty 
3'ears,  during  which  time  he  was  abundant  in  zealous  and 
successful  work  for  the  cause  of  Christ.  His  name  is  still 
"as  ointment  poured  forth,"  and,  as  long  as  my  father  lived 
in  Abbeville,  Mr.  Humphreys  was  always  a  favorite  guest, 
and  welcome  to  all  our  household,  and  he  was  regarded  by 
us  all  as  among  the  best  and  wisest  of  men  in  the  large  cir- 
cle of  our  acquaintance.  I  may  be  pardoned  for  a  remark 
which  might  savor  of  overweening  self-importance  under 
other  circmnstances,  and  that  is,  that  this  man  of  God  little 
thought  when  he  was  teaching  me  the  elements  (a  little  boy  of 
six  or  seven  years)  that  he  should  live  to  know  of  my  serving 
in  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  that  we  should  be  permitted 
in  the  good  providence  of  God  to  meet,  as  we  did  in  Balti- 
more, as  members  of  the  Southern  General  Assembly. 

In  those  childhood  times,  however,  before  my  mind  had 
experienced  the  expansion  resulting  from  contact  with  the 
great  world,  the  surrounding  picture  which  met  my  obser- 
vation was  marked,  in  my  crude  conceptions,  with  many  fea- 
tures that  loomed  up  in  imaginary  grandeur  and  mystery. 
The  ponds,  the  dehght  of  geese  and  ducks,  seemed  to  me 
extensive  sheets  of  water  of  unknown  depth ;  nor  did  they 
shrink  into  their  diminished  limits  until  I  had  seen  and 
wondered  at  their  mighty  rivals  in  my  after  years — the 
broad  waters  of  the  Savannah  and  the  dashing  surges  of 
the  Oconee  mill-pond  at  Athens,  Ga. !  I  shall  not  easily 
forget  the  deep  and  disagreeable  impression  left  on  my 
spirits  by  my  first  view  of  oil-painted  portraits  on  canvass. 
The  problem  that  puzzled  me  was  to  decide  whether  they 
were  Kving  or  dead.  They  hung  upon  a  parlor  wall  of  a 
house  in  the  neighborhood,  where  I  was  once  a  child- visitor. 
Those  strange,  searching  eyes,  peering  out  from  the  fi-ames, 


148  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  T>. 

seemed  to  follow  me  as  I  moved  all  through  the  room,  go 
•SN'here  I  would,  and  to  single  me  out  as  the  special  object  of 
their  obsei'A^ation  with  their  cold,  stony,  glaring  look.     Nor 
did  I  lose  the  apprehension  then  taking  hold  of  my  feelings 
for  a  great  while  afterwards  in  my  childhood.     I  mention 
one  more  incident  of  those  daj'^s,  when,  as  is  usual,  a  class 
of  imjDressions  make  marks  upon  the  child-heart  and  mind, 
which,  though  they  disappear  as  years  ripen,  are  somehow 
never  forgotten.     Occasion  arising  once  when  my  mother 
needed  to  send  to  a  neighbor  a  message  on  some  point  of 
social  nature.     She  sent  one  of  my  older  brothers  as  her 
messenger.     The   distance  w^as,  perhaps,   something  more 
than  a  mile  to  be  traversed,  and  he  pressed  me  into  ser\dce 
as  his  companion.     As  the  time  of  the  day  was  the  after- 
noon, and  somewhere  toward  sunset,  and  we  were  not  dis- 
posed to  be  hurried,  we  found  that  night  was  approaching 
before  we  began  to  return.     It  was  then  we  remembered  a 
ghost  story,  the  scene  of  which  was  near  a  small  running 
stream  which  crossed  our  road.     The  story  was  this :  A 
physician  of  the  neighborhood  was  once  returning  from  a 
visit  to  a  patient  along  the  very  road  we  then  trod,  and  as 
he  came  in  sight  of  the  little  branch,  as  the  story  goes,  he 
saw  a  man  approaching  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  stream 
on  horseback.     He  paid  no  special  attention  to  the  matter 
then,  as  he  expected  to  meet  the  rider  at  the  water,  but, 
when  he  came  near  it,  the  horse  and  rider  coilld  be  seen  no- 
where at  all,  but  the  vision  vanished  in  a  floating  cloud  of 
blue  smoke !     Of  course,  it  was  nothing  but  a  story  which 
was  made  up  by  some  one  merely  to  attract  the  lovers  of 
the  marvelous,  but  it  was  adopted  as  a  real  occurrence  by 
the  credulous,  and  related  by  the  negroes  as  a  true  story  of 
a  ghost  seen  by  the  doctor.     On  minds  of  children,  I  remem- 
ber, it  made  a  deep  impression ;  and  as  my  brother  and  I 
approached  the  branch,  the  scene  of  this  fearful  apparition, 
we  felt  the  awfulness  of  the  position,  especially  as  it  was 
growijig  dark.     We  quickened  our  gait,  and  did  not  feel 


Early  Reminiscences.  149 

perfectly  safe  until  we  reached  home,  breathless  with  fear 
and  fatigued  beyond  measure.  There  was  among  the  ne- 
groes immense  tendency  to  the  belief  in  ghosts,  and  no 
doubt  the  children  received  their  impressions  from  the 
superstitious  tales  which  they  were  so  fond  of  telling.  The 
misfortune  is  that,  while  many  children  subsequently  are 
brought  under  influences  sufficiently  powerful  to  counteract 
the  evil  of  such  incidental  associations,  there  are  many  who 
never  perfectly  escape  the  contagion  of  early  and  evil  train- 
ing of  this  kind. 

Memory  serves  me  with  a  reminiscence  of  a  somewhat 
different  nature,  as  it  displays  a  tendency  on  my  part  which, 
although  not  developed  into  reality  for  many  long  years  af- 
terwards, still  came  to  be  recalled  to  m}'  recollection  when 
I  had  reached  the  age  of  manhood.  It  was  a  disposition 
manifested  to  figure  among  my  home  companions  as  a  pub- 
lic speaker,  and  more  especially  as  a  preacher.  I  suppose 
it  is  in  part  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  I  had  been  accus- 
tomed all  my  childhood  to  accompany  my  mother  to  chui'ch 
Sabbath  after  Sabbath.  There  the  most  impressive  part  of 
the  occasion  was  the  appearance  and  manner  of  my  father 
and  other  ministers  as  they  officiated  in  public  service  in 
the  pulpit.  The  principle  of  imitation  would  naturally  give 
rise  to  the  practice  in  a  child,  but  as  that  idea  vanished  in 
process  of  time,  and  the  true  character  of  preaching  entered 
into  and  took  j^ossession  of  my  more  enlightened  under- 
standing, I  lost  my  fondness  for  all  personal  exercises  of 
that  kind  until  I  entered  my  junior  year  in  college,  and  even 
then  my  career  as  a  public  speaker  closed  on  the  day  of  my 
graduation,  and  my  entrance  upon  a  course  of  life  requiring 
no  such  methods  of  communicating  with  others.  I  do  not 
remember  that  I  ever  had  occasion  to  present  myself  after- 
wards in  i)ublic  as  a  speaker  until  my  thirtieth  year,  and 
that  was  as  a  licentiate  in  Mississippi ;  but  I  am  anticipat- 
ing, and  with  these  reminiscences  of  my  early  days  I  must 
close  this  chapter  and  enter  upon  another. 


I 


CHAPTER  II. 

My  Pkepaeatoey  School-days  in  Athens,  Ga. 

N  the  year  1818  my  father,  as  has  been  stated  in  his  bio- 
graj)hy  akeady,  was  invited  to  the  presidency  of  the 
University  of  Georgia,  and,  after  much  careful  deliberation 
and  prayer  for  divine  guidance,  he  decided  to  accept  the 
call.  Of  all  this,  being  a  mere  child  of  six  years  of  age,  I 
was  natui'ally  in  bHssful  ignorance,  and  the  even  tenor  of 
my  humble  way  remained  uninterrupted  by  the  momentous 
discussions  and  preparations  in  progress.  Nor  did  I  reahze 
the  fact  until  in  the  following  year,  in  the  month  of  May,  we 
were  all  summoned  to  leave  the  spot  around  which  clustered 
so  many  endearing  memories  of  days  and  years  of  what  to  us 
seemed  endless  pleasure  and  careless  delight.  Had  I  realized 
then  fully  all  that  I  should  be  called  to  encounter  in  the 
years  that  lay  spread  out  before  me  all  unknown,  a  deep 
feeling  of  sadness  would  no  doubt  have  overshadowed  my 
heart,  when,  at  a  turn  of  the  road  on  our  journey,  the  hori- 
zon beyond  the  old  fields  around  my  birthplace,  rendered 
blue  and  smooth  by  the  enchantment  lent  by  distance  to 
the  view,  was  shut  off,  and  nothing  lay  before  us  but  an  un- 
known and  weary  travel  to  the  great,  strange  world.  But 
the  wise  constitution  of  our  nature,  whereby  we  are  re- 
stricted in  our  knowledge  to  the  present,  and  cannot  pene- 
trate  a  da}"  into  the  future,  enabled  us  very  soon  to  dismiss 
all  gloom,  and  the  novelty  of  things  around  had  a  tendency 
to  restore  the  normal  equanimity  and  cheerfulness  of  child- 
hood. A  day  or  two  of  travel  (of  course,  by  private  convey- 
ance) in  those  joi'imitive  times  enabled  us  to  accomplish  the. 
sixty  miles  that  lay  between  us  and  Athens ;  and  when  we 

150 


Removal  to  Athens.  151 

came  to  the  hills  which  rise  abruptly  from  the  Oconee 
river,  beyond  which  lay  our  new  home,  the  first  objects  of 
interest  to  our  wondering  gaze  were  the  summits  of  the 
chimneys  that  rose  from  the  roof  of  the  old  three-story 
brick  dormitory  of  the  college  in  the  distance.  I  have  even 
now  a  vi^dd  impression  of  the  grand  and  solemn  appearance 
of  everything,  and  the  increasing  depth  of  that  impression 
as  we  came  in  front  of  the  old  building,  with  its  long  rowst 
of  windows,  one  above  the  other,  facing  a  wide  and  beauti- 
ful campus,  gently  sloping  to  the  street.  But  I  did  not 
know  then  that  this  huge  pile  of  brick  and  mortar,  now  full 
of  empty,  silent,  and  deserted  rooms,  which  had  then  been 
abandoned  for  nearly  three  years,  would  very  shortly  be  re- 
sounding with  the  noise  and  bustle  of  preparation  for  the 
reception  of  hundreds  of  the  young  men  and  boys  of  the 
land,  coming  to  be  trained  under  the  new  order  of  things 
for  their  life-work  of  honor  and  usefulness.  Utterly  uncon- 
scions,  too,  was  I,  "  a  small  boy  "  of  seven  years,  as  I  gazed 
on  the  scene  presented  to  view,  that  in  some  future  day  I 
should  be  admitted  as  an  occupant  of  this  huge  building, 
and  a  recipient  of  the  advantages  and  benefits  of  the  insti- 
tution. All  these  facts  and  reflections  lay  latent  and  un- 
formed in  my  unawakened  consciousness,  and  I  felt  no  dis- 
turbance of  my  peace  of  mind  l^y  the  fact  that  I  was  doomed 
to  a  long  and  tedious  training  preparatory  to  this  higher 
theatre  of  work  and  effort. 

My  scholastic  career  as  a  pupil  began  soon  after  my 
father's  arrival  in  Athens  by  my  entrance  into  an  English 
school,  taught  in  a  small,  unpainted  room  some  twenty  or 
twenty-five  feet  square,  as  I  remember,  on  the  northern 
limit  of  the  University  campus,  just  where  the  first  house  of 
worship  of  the  Presbyterian  church  was  afterwards  erected. 
The  teacher  of  this  school  was  James  Fulton,  an  excellent 
man,  of  plain  and  unpretentious  character,  but  deser\4ng  of 
full  credit  for  the  possession  of  all  the  qualifications  of  a 


152  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

thorough  English  scholar  and  teacher  in  the  primary  de- 
I)artment.     I  spent  at  least  one  session  there,  and  my  recol- 
lection of  the  school  is,  that  it  was  patronized  by  some  of 
the  first  citizens  of  the  town  and  surrounding  country.     The 
only  names  of  my  fellow  pupils  that  I  can  now  recall  are 
two  sons  of  Hon.  A.  S.  Clayton,  George  K.  and  Augustine 
S. ;  two  sons  of  a  wealthy  merchant  of  Athens,  Stevens  and 
Dudley  Thomas,  and  two  sons  of  Colonel  Carnes,  Johnson 
and  Stanle}^     There  were  also  the  Scotts,  Kinneys,  and 
Mitchells,  from  the  surrounding  country.     Some  of  these 
boys  may  be  still  Hving,  but  I  know  that  many  of  them  are 
dead.     The  system  of  government  adopted  in  this  school 
w^as  based  upon  the  time-honored  rules  laid  down  in  the 
Proverbs  of  Solomon,  which  enjoin  upon  all  in  authority, 
whether  as  parents,  or  as  those  acting  in  loco  par entum,  the 
use  of  the  rod,  giving  as  the  ground  of  this  injunction  the 
:fact  that  "foolishness  is  bound  up  in  the  heart  of  a  child," 
and  assuring  the  administrator  that  "the  rod  of  correction 
shall  drive  it  far  from  him."     I  am  far  from  intending  to 
leave  the  impression,  however,  that  Mr.  Fulton  was  a  man  of 
cruel  or  passionate  temj^er,  or  devoid  of  the  power  of  self- 
control.     He  felt  it  his  duty  to  the  child,  as  well  as  to  the 
parent,  to  use  all  legitimate  measures  for  the  connection  of 
offenders,  in  order  to  insure  proper  training  and  secure  the 
good  order  of  the  school.     But  it  was  a  true  experience  of 
a  faithful  school-teacher  in  those  days,  and  is  largely  true 
in  the  present  age,  that  his  office  was  difficult  and  thankless 
in  its  exercise.     How  it  originated,  perhaps,  is  a  problem 
not   solved,   but    it    is  certain   that   the   relation   between 
teacher  and  pupil  was  too  generally  regarded  by  the  latter 
as   one  of  direct   antagonism.     We   may    account  for  this 
in  part  by  the  fact,  that  on  the  part  of  the  teacher  of  the 
olden  time  there  was  an  exaction  of  official  distance  to  be 
observed  by  the  pupil  from  him  in  order  to  the  preservation 
of  that  respect  due  his  office.     The  natural  result  of  such  a 


Eakly  School  Days.  153 

requkement  was  to  engender  in  the  mind  of  the  pupil  the 
idea  that  the  teacher  was  to  be  feared,  not  loved.  A  cus- 
tom not  yet  altogether  out  of  use  existed  then,  viz.,  to  desig- 
nate the  teacher  by  the  adjective  "  Old,"  and  that,  too,  with- 
out regard  to  age,  all  that  was  necessary  being  that  he 
occupied  the  place  of  teacher.  Frequently  there  was  added 
a  noun,  to  be  qualified  by  this  word  "  Old,"  founded  upon 
some  peculiarity  observable  in  the  teacher.  Accordingly^ 
that  which  gave  rise  to  Mr.  Fulton's  nick-name  was  a  stoop- 
ing' ffait  in  his  walk  and  the  forward  movement  of  his  head 
at  every  step,  and  so,  not  content  with  calhng  him  "Old 
Fulton,"  they  adopted  the  title  ''Old  Drake,"  by  which  he 
was  afterwards  generally  known  among  successive  genera- 
tions of  pupils.  Carrying  out  the  idea,  the  boys  who  at- 
tended the  Grammar  School,  a  preparatory  school  for  the 
rniversity,  who  held  themselves  as  occupying  a  more  ele- 
vated rank  than  the  Fultonites,  were  fond  of  carrying  this 
custom  to  its  legitimate  sequence,  and  as  the  master  was  a 
drake,  it  followed  that  the  pupils  were  "  young  ducks''  It 
is  recorded  that  these  boys  of  the  "  upper  form  "  were  in 
the  habit  (by  way  of  amusement)  of  calhng  the  young  ducks 
■up  to  be  fed,  repeating  the  words,  ''Diddle,  diddle,  diddle,'' 
no  doubt  to  the  wrathful  indignation  of  this  class. 

The  only  instance  of  outbreaking  disorder  during  my 
connection  with  this  school  was  a  '"barring  out"  that  was 
carried  into  effect  by  the  larger  boys.  What  the  provoca- 
tion was  that  suggested  this  manifestation  of  rebellion  I  am 
not  able  to  recall  at  tliis  remote  jDcriod ;  it  was  accomplished, 
however,  by  the  usual  methods  adopted  on  such  occasions. 
When  the  teacher  arrived  on  the  morning  of  that  day  to 
■open  and  conduct  the  exercises  as  usual,  he  found  himself 
effectually  excluded  from  his  domain  by  barred  door  and 
w^indows.  He  succeeded  in  recovering  his  lost  seat  of  au- 
thority, I  suppose,  by  getting  outside  assistance,  and  settled 
the  matter,  doubtless,  on  the  most  satisfactory  terms  to  him- 


154  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

self,  however  it  resulted  to  the  rebels.  As  to  myself,  I  re- 
member that  I  had  no  concern  in  it  for  two  good  reasons : 
I  was  too  yomig,  and  I  stood  in  too  wholesome  dread  of  the 
home  settlement  consequent  upon  a  j)ossible  participation 
in  such  an  enterprise.  I  may  as  well  dismiss  this  part  of 
my  school-day  history  by  recording  that,  neither  during  that 
period  or  term  of  my  discipleship,  nor  in  any  school  or  col- 
lege with  which  I  was  subsequently  connected,  was  I  ever 
concerned  or  personally  involved  in  the  petty  tricks  or  more 
serious  misdemeanors  so  commonly  practiced  by  school-boys 
or  by  college  students.  I  presume  that  long  ere  this  time 
the  good  man,  Mr.  James  Fulton,  who  wielded  the  authority 
of  that  little  domain  in  1820,  has  rested  from  his  toils  and 
been  cfathered  to  his  fathers.  Peace  to  his  ashes !  Manr 
with  w^hom  I  have  been  associated  dining  my  long  life  may 
have  outshined  him  in  the  more  artificial  distinctions  of 
society,  but  I  am  sure  that  few  have  surpassed  him  in  the 
homely,  but  valuable,  virtue  of  conscientious  fidelity  in  the 
discharge  of  daily  duty. 

When  I  left  that  school  my  father  placed  in  my  hands  the 
Latin  Grammar,  as  the  first  step  in  my  preparation  for  col- 
lege. I  was  then  only  eight  years  of  age.  It  may  not  be 
charged  that  I  am  presumptuous  in  asserting  my  belief  that 
it  w^as  a  premature  step  in  my  educational  training.  The 
study  of  language,  especially  of  the  ancient  Greek  and  Ro- 
man tongues,  in  my  opinion,  formed  after  long  experience, 
requires,  for  its  successful  mastery,  a  maturity  of  mind  and 
a  critical  grasp  of  thought  which  is  not  found  in  a  child  of 
eight  years.  The  more  appropriate  line  of  study,  as  it 
strikes  me,  is  the  course  that  calls  for  the  culture  of  the 
j)erceptive  powers,  since  these  are  the  faculties  first  awak- 
ened and  brought  into  action. 

Says  ex-President  Porter  in  his  great  work,  The  Human 
InteRect :  "The  studies  that  should  be  first  pursued  are 
those  which  require  observation  and  acquisition,  and  wiiich 


Maturity  of  Mind  Necessary  in  Education.         155 

involve  imagination  and  memory,  in  contrast  with  those 
which  demand  severe  efforts  and  trained  habits  of  thought. 
Inasmuch,  also,  as  material  objects  are  apprehended  and 
mastered  in  early  life  with  far  greater  ease  and  success  than 
the  acts  and  states  of  the  spirit,  objective  and  material 
studies  should  have  almost  exclusive  precedence." 

The  true  conception  of  the  development  of  the  intellect 
he  expresses  succinctly  and  justly,  I  think,  in  these  words: 

"To  teach  pure  observation,  or  the  mastery  of  objects  and 
words,  without  classification  or  interpretation,  is  to  be  igno- 
rant even  to  simple  stupidity;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  to 
stimulate  the  thought  j^i'ocesses  to  unnatural  and  prema- 
turely painful  efforts,  is  to  do  violence  to  the  laws  which 
nature  has  written  in  the  constitution  of  the  intellect. 
Even  thought  and  reflection  teach  us  that  before  the  pro- 
cesses of  thought  can  be  applied,  materials  must  be  gathered 
in  large  abundance;  and,  to  provide  for  these,  nature  has 
made  acquisition  and  memory  easy  and  spontaneous  for 
childhood,  reasoning  and  science  difficult  and  unnatural." 

If  we  call  to  mind  that  there  is  a  science  of  language,  as 
well  as  of  any  other  department  of  knowledge,  and  that  ta 
master  that  science  requii'es  a  power  of  reasoning  not  gene- 
rally developed  at  so  early  a  period  as  eight  years  of  age, 
my  position  will  be  appreciated.  I  think  that  some  book  of 
object  lessons  is  preferable  to  the  Latin  Grammar  to  be 
placed  in  the  hands  of  so  young  a  child.  Even  a  book  of 
primary  Geometry,  couched  in  simple  language,  accompa- 
nied with  figures,  can  be  explained  to  one  of  that  age  with 
entire  success.  Then  the  powers  thus  called  into  active  ex- 
ercise to  observe  and  to  retain  in  memory  Avill  stimulate  the 
learner  to  discriminate  and  classify  w4iat  has  been  acquired. 
Due  attention  to  such  principles  for  a  time  will  result  in 
strengthening  the  memory  and  in  rendering  the  powers  of 
classification  vigorous  and  prompt,  so  as  to  be  ready  to  take 
in  all  the  more  abstruse  principles  involved  in  the  science  of 


156  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

language.  Those  studies  less  abstruse  and  more  readily 
and  easily  mastered  should  occuj)}^  the  attention  of  the 
student  in  earlier  years,  until  the  more  mature  age  of  twelve 
or  thereabouts.  I  can  only  say,  that  in  the  main  the  facts 
in  my  case  tend  to  confirm  this  theory;  for  while  it  is  true 
that  I  had  not  the  opportunity  of  testing  the  advantage  of 
Bubstituting  the  less  abstruse  course  of  study  referred  to 
above,  the  difficulty  I  experienced  in  the  beginning  of  my 
Latin  stud}'  must  be  accounted  for  upon  the  fact  that  it  was 
undertaken  at  an  age  when  the  mind  was  immature.  I  give 
this  as  my  opinion  from  my  success  in  mastering  the  lan- 
guages at  a  later  period,  after  I  had  been  kept  to  the  study 
of  other  subjects,  along  with  the  study  of  ancient  lan- 
guages, until  by  the  exercise  graduall}^  I  acquired  this  2^0 wer 
and  a  taste  for  Latin.  So  that,  contrary  to  the  expectation 
that  might  have  been  indulged  from  my  unpromising  begin- 
ning, I  soon  began  to  find  enjoyment  in  the  study  of  the 
ancient  languages,  and  the  longer  I  was  kept  at  these 
studies,  the  greater  the  attraction  they  seemed  to  possess. 
Hence  it  came  to  j)ass  that  I  attained  a  high  grade  of  class 
standing  in  this  department  of  scholastic  instruction.  It 
became  my  favorite  study,  and  w  as  my  peculiar  forte,  so 
much  so  that  I  filled  the  Professorship  of  Classical  Litera- 
ture in  two  of  the  Faculties  of  which  I  afterwards  became  a 
member,  and  taught  the  Greek  incidental^  in  a  third. 

To  resume  the  narrative,  I  became  a  regular  student  of 
the  Grammar  School  not  long  after  the  time  in  question, 
and  in  that  school  I  began  my  ^preparation  for  the  Freshman 
Class  in  Franklin  College,  of  the  University  of  Georgia. 
The  list  of  studies  required  for  admission  into  this  class  is 
not  remembered,  but  the  age  of  admission  was  then,  what 
it  is  now,  fixed  at  fourteen  years.  When  it  is  known  to  all 
that  the  vast  advancement  of  the  knowledge  of  science 
within  the  half  century  past  is  unj^recedented  in  the  history 
of  the  world,  it  will  not  escape  the  observation  of  those  who 


Enters  the  Gbammar  School.  157 

are  familiar  -with  the  world's  progress  that  in  1822-'23  the 
cnrriciilum  of  scientific  study  was  \'ery  limited  in  extent 
and  in  the  number  of  subjects  pursued.  The  principal 
stress  was  laid  on  Latin  and  Greek  in  the  published  rec[ui- 
sites  for  admission.  Inasmuch,  then,  as  I  did  not  attain 
the  age  of  fourteen,  and  was  not  allowed  to  enter  College 
until  1826,  it  will  be  seen  that  I  had  an  excess  of  time  in 
which  to  prepare.  I  entered  upon  my  work,  however,  with 
my  best  powers,  and  the  time  wore  on  and  I  made  very  fair 
progress. 

The  Grammar  School,  in  which  I  was  now  entered  as  a 
pupil,  consisted,  as  I  now  recollect,  of  about  one  hundred 
boj's,  of  all  ages  from  ten  to  eighteen  or  twenty,  and  of  all 
grades  of  advancement,  from  beginners  to  those  who  were 
engaged  in  the  closing  studies  of  the  course.  It  was  under 
the  joint  instruction  of  two  gentlemen,  Moses  W.  Dobbins 
and  Ebenezer  Newton.  Mr.  Dobbins  was  a  nephew  of  my 
father,  and  received  his  entire  education  at  AYilUngton 
Academy.  His  colleague,  Mr.  Newton,  was  a  graduate  of 
the  University,  of  the.  Class  of  1811.  Mr.  Dobbins  being  a 
cousin  of  mine,  I  was  placed  under  his  immediate  care  and 
supervision.  These  teachers  occupied  separate  rooms  of  a 
two-story  building,  Mr.  Dobbins  the  room  on  the  lower 
floor  and  Mr.  Newton  a  smaller  room  above  stairs.  The 
lower  room  was  made  purposely  larger,  in  order  to  be  used 
at  the  opening  and  closing  hoiu'S  of  the  school  every  day 
for  prayers,  the  entire  body  of  the  students  of  both  aj^art- 
ments  being  required  to  be  present.  On  such  occasions  the 
teachers  efliciated  alternately,  the  roll  was  called  by  moni- 
tors appointed  from  the  older  students. 

These  gentlemen  have  both  long  since  ceased  from  their 
earthly  labors  and  passed  to  their  heavenly  rest.  They 
were  men  of  excellent  qualities  of  head  and  heart;  well- 
grounded  in  all  the  required  subjects  of  scholastic  instruc- 
tion, with  fii'm,  steady,  impartial,  and  kindly  methods  of 


158  John  N.  Waddel.  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

discipline;  deyotedly  pious  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  possessing  the  entire  confidence  and  esteem  of 
the  community  where  they  resided.  At  that  time,  and  for 
some  years  folloT^'ing,  the  school  formed  a  part  of  the  sys- 
tem of  the  University,  and  an  annual  salary  of  eight  hun- 
dred dollars  "vras  paid  to  each  of  these  teachers  from  the 
"University  treasury.  In  process  of  time  the  Grammar  School 
was  separated  from  the  University  as  a  constituent  part  of 
its  coui'se,  and  was  thrown  open  to  individual  enterprise, 
the  teacher  receiving  his  support  from  the  tuition  fees.  The 
old  school-house  was  removed  to  give  place  for  some  build- 
ing to  be  used  for  pur2:)oses  of  the  University  proper,  per- 
haps the  library. 

It  may  be  in  order  that  I  should  here  record  more  min- 
utely the  course  of  preparatory  study  adopted  in  that  school. 
It  will  serve  as  a  part  of  the  history  of  education,  and,  by  a 
comparison  of  it  with  that  which  now  is  required  for  admis- 
sion into  college,  we  may  observe  the  advance  made  in  that 
stage  of  education. 

The  course  covered  Latin,  Greek,  arithmetic,  penman- 
ship, elocution,  and  composition.  The  first  book  was  the 
Latin  Grammar,  which  was  studied  memoriter,  the  defini- 
tions of  the  parts  of  speech,  the  declensions  and  j)aradigms 
of  the  nouns  and  adjectives,  and  pronouns,  the  conjugations 
of  the  verb,  with  number,  person,  mood,  and  tense,  and  all 
the  variations  of  regular,  iiTegular,  and  defective  verbs,  and 
the  indeclinable  j^ai'ts  of  speech,  adverbs,  prepositions,  con- 
junctions, and  interjections,  all  were  carefully  committed  to 
memory  and  made  familiar  to  the  mind  of  the  student. 
This  brought  him  to  the  syntax,  and  the  arrival  at  this  point 
in  the  journey  was  always  looked  to  as  an  important  attain- 
ment, opening  a  new  and  interesting  scene  of  study.  Mem- 
ory was  still  called  into  active  exercise.  The  rules  must  be 
committed  and  all  the  examples  illustrating  each  rule.  This 
part  having  been  gone  over,  ordinarily  the  first  parts  were 


Early  Methods  of  Teaching.  159 

reviewed,  and  when,  in  the  course  of  this  review,  the  syntax 
was  again  reached,  the  student  was  required,  not  only  to 
memorize   as  before,  but  the  new  task  was  prescribed  of 
''parsing"  (as  it  was  called)  every  word  in  each  example, 
showing-  the  i^art  of  speech  to  which  it  belonged,  together 
with  the  relation  it  bore  to  the  other  words  in  the  example, 
and,  lastly,  to  repeat  and  apply  the  rule  under  which  the 
student  was  exercising  himself.     This  course  was  continued 
until  every  rule  and  all  its  examples  were  thoroughly  mas- 
tered to  the  end  of  the  grammar.     It  is  interesting,  too,  to 
observe  the  changes  which  have  taken  place  in  the  text- 
books since  that  time.     The  grammar  used  then,  and  for 
some  vears,  was  an  old  book  called  Jiuddiman's  Hudlments 
of  the  Latin  Tongue,''  now  perhaps  out  of  print,  of  which  I 
have  seen  only  one  copy  in  half  a  century.     ]\Iany  expedients 
were  adopted  in  it  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  the  memory  of 
the  student  in  committing  the  variations  of  the  verb,  or 
other  parts  of  speech,  and  the  one  most  advantageous  was 
to  present  the  principle  in  rhyme. 

As  there  was  then  a  comparatively  small  amount  of  scien- 
titic  study  required  for  admission  into  college,  the  greater 
part  of  the  time  and  attention  of  the  candidate  was  occupied 
in  the  study  of  the  ancient  languages.  There  were  some 
peculiarities  in  vogue  then  in  the  methods  of  teaching  Latin 
and  Greek,  which  seem,  in  a  great  measure,  to  have  been 
abandoned  in  the  modern  system  of  preparation,  AYhile  I 
do  not  propose  to  decide  upon  the  relative  value  of  either 
plan,  the  old  or  the  new,  at  the  same  time  I  do  not  feel  at 
liberty  to  omit  a  minute  record  of  the  mode  of  the  schools 
used  in  that  early  period  of  time.  I  propose  giving  also  the 
reasons  for  its  adoption  by  those  who  made  use  of  it. 

One  of  these  j)eculiar  methods  was  to  place  in  the  hands 
of  the  candidate  or  student  beginning  the  course  a  series  of 
]Drimary  text-books,  which  varied  in  the  degree  of  difficulty 
successively,  from  the  exceedingly  easy  to  those  of  the  series 


160  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

requiring  the  closer  application  of  the  mind  to  master,  un- 
til gradually  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  acquired  re- 
sources, having  no  aid  save  that  derived  from  his  grammar 
and  dictionary.  The  arrangement  was  on  this  wise:  The 
first  text-book  j^laced  in  the  hands  of  the  student  after  a 
thorough  mastery  of  the  grammar  was  a  book  called  T7ie 
Colloquies  of  Corderius,  a  copy  of  which  I  have  not  seen,  I 
am  sui'e,  within  fifty  years,  and  I  suppose  it  is  out  of  print; 
it  is  certainly  out  of  use.  The  book  was  arranged  in  paral- 
lel columns,  the  one  of  these  columns  being  very  simple  sen- 
tences in  English,  and  the  other  consisting  of  Latin  sen- 
tences to  corresjDond.  The  student  was  expected,  while  pre- 
paring his  task,  to  use  the  translation  entirely  until  he  had 
become  perfectly  familiar  with  the  reading;  but  when  he 
came  before  the  teacher  to  recite,  he  was  expected  to  cover 
the  English  with  a  paper,  so  as  to  translate  the  Latin  with- 
out further  aid.  After  accomplishing  fifty  of  the  Colloquies 
in  this  "way,  exercised  all  along  in  parsing  every  word  of  the 
Latin,  as  well  as  translating,  he  was  required  to  take  up  the 
Colloquies  of  ^rasimcs.  This  was  arranged  in  the  same 
way,  in  parallel  columns  of  Latin  and  English,  but  the  read- 
ing was  somewhat  more  difficult  to  the  student  from  the 
fact  that  the  order  of  the  Latin  text  placed  the  words  not 
in  exact  correspondence  with  the  English,  and  so  the 
student  found  that  there  was  a  necessity  for  harder  study 
to  apply  the  words  in  the  Latin  to  the  Enghsh  words  in 
their  proper  places.  This  was  done  by  what  was  called  by 
the  boys  "skipping  about,"  and  demanded  some  knowledge 
by  their  previous  training  to  find  the  proper  word  and  use  it 
as  its  various  inflections  required  in  order  to  meet  the  exact 
meaning.  This  was  followed  by  a  thii'd  text-book,  Corne- 
lius JSFepos,  ill  his  Lives  oj  Distinguished  3fen,  which, 
although  arranged  in  the  same  method  of  parallel  Enghsh 
and  Latin  columns,  required  still  greater  capacity  of  selec- 
tion and  discrimination  so  as  to  appropriate  the  scattered 


Early  Classical  Text-Books.  IGl 

Tvords  in  the  Latin  to  the  correspondent  English  words,  and 
thus  to  construct  the  sentence.  The  closest  attention  was 
paid  also  to  the  analysis  of  the  sentence  in  every  respect, 
and  the  student  was  exercised  in  pointing  out  the  interde- 
pendence of  the  several  parts  and  the  relation  sustained  by 
the  one  to  the  other,  and  the  application  of  the  proj^er  s\ti- 
tactical  rule  to  the  whole.  These  books  having  been  mas- 
tered as  far  as  was  considered  necessary,  The  Comment 
taries  of  Ccesar  was  next  put  into  the  student's  hands,  and 
now  ho  had  no  further  aid  from  an  English  translation,, 
unless  he  used  one  surreptitiously.  Certainly  there  was  no 
provision  for  such  assistance  in  the  ordinar}'  course  of  study, 
and  this  sort  of  help  was  held  to  be  contraband,  "banned 
and  barred,  forbidden  fare."'  Of  this  text-book  six  books 
were  required  to  bo  read.  Along  with  it  Latin  exercises 
were  written,  3Iair's  Introduction  being  the  text-book,  the 
work  prescribed  being  to  correct  false  Latin  sentences. 
Ccesar  was  succeeded  by  Virgil,  and  ot  this  book  The  Ten 
Eclogues^  the  fii*st,  second,  and  fourth  books  of  the  Georgics, 
and  six  books  of  the  yEneid.  The  Latin  preparatory 
coiu'se  was  closed  bv  readino*  Cicero's  Select  Orations, 
but  the  number  of  these  orations  required  I  cannot  now 
recall.  But  in  consequence  of  my  being  so  far  under  the 
required  age  of  entrance  into  college  (fourteen  jxars),  I  was 
kept  in  the  Grammar  School  much  longer  than  was  neces- 
saiT,  and  consequently  I  read  more  Latin  and  Greek  than 
was  ordinarily  read.  We  usually  began  the  study  of  Greek 
on  entering  the  study  of  l^irgil,  as  it  was  supposed  that  we 
had  been  sufficienth''  drilled  in  the  previous  Latin  course  to 
fit  us  for  the  study  of  Greek.  The  grammar  in  use  then 
was  a  very  small,  thin  book,  ^Vettenhal^s  Greek  Grammar, 
which,  being  deservedly  regarded  as  exceedingly  defective 
in  every  requisite  for  the  stud}--  of  Greek,  was  very  soon 
superseded  by  superior  grammars.  Valpy's  GreeJc  Gram- 
mar was  introduced   (Anthon's  edition),  and  this  lasted  in. 


162  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

its  use  in  the  schools  of  the  country  a  long  time.  This  has 
had  its  rivals  in  later  days,  among  which  we  may  mention 
Goodrich  and  Bullion,  Ktlhner,  and  Goodwj^n,  and  Hadley. 
Others  also  continue  to  take  their  places  in  the  modern 
course  of  study.  Not  to  mention  the  great  German  authors, 
we  may  dismiss  the  subject  by  the  remark,  that  it  is  becom- 
ing a  custom  for  many  professors  of  Greek  to  edit  a  Greek 
grammar  to  meet  some  real  or  imaginary  want  unsupphed 
by  existing  grammars. 

The  j&i'st  Greek  text-book  that  was  j^laced  in  my  hands 
w^as  the  Greek  Testament;  and  while  the  Gospel  by  John 
was  ordinarily  regarded  sufficient,  my  impression  now  is 
that,  by  reason  of  my  being  too  young  to  enter  college,  I 
was  kept  reading  several  other  parts  of  the  Testament. 
There  were  two  books  now  out  of  use  which  were  then 
adopted  as  text-books  in  Greek,  viz.,  Grreca  Minora  and 
Grmca  Majora.  The  first  of  these  consisted  of  The  Fables, 
The  Mythological  Narratives,  and  The  Dialogues  of  the 
Dead,  by  Lucian,  and  the  Odes  of  Anacreon.  The  Grceca 
Majora  was,  in  like  manner,  a  book  of  extracts  from  the 
ancient  Greek  authors;  also  much  more  difficult  to  the 
learner.  These  are  no  longer  known  in  the  list  of  prepara- 
tory studies  for  college,  but,  instead,  we  have  Greek  readers 
of  a  variety  of  authors,  among  them  Goodwj^n's  and  AYhiton's 
First  Book  in  Greek,  etc.  The  course  of  preparation  in  the 
ancient  languages  covered  more  ground  then  than  it  does 
now  from  the  fact  already  referred  to,  viz.,  the  wonderful 
advance  of  the  sciences  and  other  special  departments  of 
human  learning  within  the  last  half  century,  which  has  ren- 
dered it  necessaiy  that  time  once  devoted  to  Latin  and 
Greek  should  be  shortened  and  surrendered  to  the  sciences, 
and  partly  to  the  study  of  the  modern  languages. 

That  boys  were  made  more  thorough  in  their  scholarship) 
in  the  days  of  my  boyhood  than  they  have  been  since,  may 
or  may  not  be  true  universally,  or  that  the  system  then 


Eauly  Text- Books.  163 

adopted  ^^as  superior  to  that  used  in  modern  times  I  am  not 
prepared  to  assert  as  true  in  all  respects.     I  am  decidedly  of 
the  opinion  that,  where  a  sufficient  time  is  allowed  for  boys 
to  learn  what  they  are  required  to  master,  appropriate  sub- 
jects being  given  to  the  various  ages  of  the  boys,  the  same 
result  might  be  reached  by  either  course.     But  it  has  come 
to  bo  regarded  by  our  people  as  too  great  a  sacrifice  of  time 
and  money  to  allow  seven  or  eight  years  to  the  study  of  the 
Latin  and  Greek  languages  and  sciences.     As  it  is  a  part  of 
a  liberal  education  to  study  these  branches,  the  accepted 
theory  is  that  our  sons  must,  of  coiu'se,  study  them;  but  the 
constant  and  impatient  cry  is,  " Hurry  them  through."    Now, 
as  teachers  are  mostly  dependent  upon  the  patronage  they  ob- 
tain, they  fall  in  with  this  clamor  too  often  in  order  to  please 
jDarents;  and  if  any  teacher  is  too  conscientious  to  pander 
to  this  unwise  sentiment,  he  is  frequently  condemned  as 
old  fogy ish,  and  is  left  behind  in  the  race  of  competition. 
There  remain  still  a  few  of  this  class  of  teachers  to  recall  to 
our  recollection  Avhat  was  once  in  existence,  but  the  race  is 
rapidly  dying  out.     Another  cause  of  superficial  scholarship 
is  to  be  traced  to  the  multitude  of  helps  in  the  way  of  text- 
books, making  the  student's  task  so  easy  as  to  leave  him  no 
mental  labor  to  perform.     Everything  is  simplified,  espe- 
cially in  the  languages  and  mathematics.     There  are  two 
extremes  to  be  avoided,  of  which  the  one  is  too  little  assist- 
ance, and  the  other  the  opposite  extreme.     I  have  seen  an 
edition  of  Horace  and  one  of  the  Iliad,  in  which  the  editor 
not  only  translated  and  scanned  every  difficult  passage,  but 
many  that  were  not  difficult,  thereby  winning  the  reputa- 
tion  accorded   to    commentators   generally,   that  they  are 
"very  good  in  easy  places";  besides  analyzing  or  parsing 
almost  every  word  for  the  student. 

Some  of  text-books  of  the  old  time,  in  my  judgment,  were 
objectionable,  not  on  account  of  being  too  easy,  but  because 
they  did  not  require  enough  of  independent  efibrt  on  the- 


164  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

part  of  the  student.  I  have  described  the  method  of  teach- 
ing  by  parallel  colunins  of  EngHsh  and  Latin,  in  which  the 
task  of  the  student  was  simj^ly  that  of  memory,  and  I  be- 
lieve that,  if  no  Enghsli  translation  had  been  furnished,  he 
could  have  mastered  the  whole  with  no  aid  but  that  which 
he  could  have  j)rocured  from  a  dictionary  or  vocabulary  and 
his  grammar.  I  prefer  the  modern  text-book  system,  which 
ignores  translations  from  the  outset;  and  yet,  while  a  judi- 
cious system  of  notes  in  the  back  part  of  the  book  is  not  ob- 
jectionable, that  which  is  found  in  many  of  the  books  is  so 
voluminous  and  explanatory  as  to  require  only  that  the 
learner  should  turn  over  the  leaves  and  consult  the  notes, 
ignoring  the  dictionary  altogether.  Provided,  therefore, 
that  the  languages  as  a  study  be  not  demanded  of  a  stu- 
dent at  an  age  when  his  mental  powers  are  inadequate  to 
the  mastery  of  such  abstruse  subjects,  and  the  sei-ies  of 
text-books  be  gradually  ascending  in  their  grade  from  the 
easy  to  the  more  difficult,  I  should  always  decide  to  recom- 
mend the  modern  system.  I  can  only  add,  that  the  Greek 
lexicon  which  was  placed  in  my  hands  was  thoroughly 
Greek,  giving  even  the  definitions  in  Latin ;  and  my  coj^y  of 
Homer's  Iliad  (Clark's)  gave  me  notes  at  the  bottom  of  the 
page,  every  word  of  which  was  in  Latin. 

There  is  one  more  j^oint  I  should  bring  into  view  just 
here :  it  is  the  vast  importance  to  a  thorough  comprehension 
oi  language  which  ought  to  be  attached  to  the  study  of  ety- 
mology. This  formed  a  very  prominent  exercise  in  the 
class  drilling  of  the  olden  time.  The  i^lan  of  recitation  was : 
1,  Translation,  with  proper  pronunciation  of  the  words ;  2, 
Analysis  of  the  sentence,  or,  as  is  the  word  more  commonly 
used,  parsing ;  and  then  the  student  was  to  give  the  root, 
or  stem,  or  derivation  of  every  simple  word,  and  the  com- 
position of  every  compound.  Here,  again,  there  was  a  dif- 
ference in  the  giving  of  these  roots  and  compositions.  The 
root  of  the  Greek  word  was  given  in  Latin,  not  in  English. 


An  Incident  of  College  ExAanNATioNS.  165 

Those  who  ha,ve  been  drilled  in  etymology  in  such  schools 
never  lose  the  influence  in  after  life  of  this  part  of  their 
school  exercises,  as  they  find  themselves  instinctively  insti- 
tuting an  inquiry  into  the  origin  of  words,  particularly  if  it 
be  a  word  newly  introduced  into  our  language.  This  is  in- 
deed one  of  the  benefits  of  the  ancient  classics ;  we  learn 
English  by  them.  I  was  prepared  for  college  long  before  I 
had  attained  the  age  of  admission,  and  hence  I  had  reason 
to  observe  on  more  than  one  occasion  boys  who  were  my 
classmates  in  the  Grammar  School  examined  and  admitted 
into  college,  while  I  was  left  out,  and  not  even  examined, 
for  no  other  reason  than  because  they  were  old  enough  and 
I  was  not.  Had  my  exclusion  been  attributable  to  any  de- 
ficiency of  my  scholarship,  it  would  have  been  a  source  of 
mortification  to  me ;  but  as  it  turned  out,  I  was  content  to 
wait  patiently  and  "bide  my  time,"  which  came  all  right  at 
last. 

I  recall,  in  this  connection,  an  incident  bordering  on  the 
ludicrous,  which  occurred  on  occasion  of  one  of  those  annual 
examinations  of  candidates  for  admission  into  college  from 
the  Grammar  School.  It  was  when  one  of  the  classes 
to  which  I  belonged  was  to  be  examined,  from  which  I  was 
exempt  by  being  under  age.  Two  of  the  boys  among  these 
candidates  were  intimate  associates  of  mine,  and  were  to  be 
examined  on  the  appointed  morning  in  the  College  Chapel, 
in  presence  of  the  Faculty.  They  were  perfectly  confident 
of  success,  and  greatly  uplifted  in  the  anticipation  of  being 
admitted  to  the  coveted  dig-nity  of  college  boys.  They  pro- 
posed, then,  to  the  class,  on  the  evening  previous,  ^hat  they 
should  repair  to  the  usual  bathing  place,  on  the  Oconee 
river,  near  by,  and  "wash  off  Grammar  School!"  They 
went,  and,  I  have  no  doubt,  enjoyed  the  bath,  doing  their 
part  toward  the  accomplishment  of  the  desired  object ;  but, 
when  the  test  of  the  next  morning  was  applied  by  the  ex- 
aminers, both  were  rejected,  much  to  their  disappointment, 
chagrin,  and  mortification. 


166  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

To  resume  my  story,  I  -was  kept  in  the  Grammar  School  a 
part  of  the  remaining  term  of  my  nonage,  pursuing  the 
same  studies  that  formed  the  freshman  course  in  college. 
As  there  ahvavs  was  a  school  examination  conducted  at  the 
close  of  each  session,  I,  among  the  other  boys,  was  exam- 
ined on  the  studies  I  had  been  pursuing  during  the  session. 
On  one  of  these  examination  occasions,  as  the  school  was  a 
constituent  part  of  the  University,  a  member  of  the  Faculty 
came  to  attend,  and  he  was  expected  to  make  a  report  of 
the  result.  I  do  not  think  that  I  attended  that  school  much 
longer  after  that.  I  was  put  to  some  light  work  on  my 
father's  farm,  near  Athens,  and,  according  to  my  recollec- 
tion now,  I  was  kept  at  that  occupation  until  about  May  1, 
1826,  just  about  a  month  after  I  had  completed  my  four- 
teenth year.  I  remember  very  well  that,  on  a  certain  after- 
noon, in  an  interview  which  I  had  with  Mr.  E.  S.  Hopping, 
one  of  the  tutors,  he  informed  me,  greatly  to  my  surprise, 
that  I  had  been  admitted  b}"  the  Faculty  into  the  Freshman 
class,  and  he  notified  me  to  attend  the  exercises  the  next 
morning  at  sunrise !  He  further  accounted  for  my  being 
admitted  without  examination  upon  the  ground  that  my  ex- 
amination at  the  Grammar  School  some  time  before  had 
been  attended  by  a  professor,  who  reported  so  favorably  of 
it  that  I  was  admitted  on  the  credit  of  that  examination 
without  being  required  to  submit  to  an}^  further  test.  Ac- 
cordingly, the  next  morning  I  repaired  to  the  recitation- 
room  of  the  tutor,  Mr.  Lathrop,  who  had  charge  of  the  in- 
struction of  the  Freshman  Class,  and  was  enrolled  as  a 
student  about  the  first  of  May,  being  the  beginning  of  the 
third  or  last  term  of  the  Freshman  year,  about  three  months 
before  the  close  of  the  session,  and  the  day  of  the  annual 
commencement. 


w 


CHAPTER  III. 

CoTJiKGE  Life  in  the  University  of  Georgia. 

HEN  I  entered  college  the  Freshman  Class  consisted  of 
quite  a  large  number  of  students,  of  which  I  was  the 
youngest.  Before  our  graduation,  however,  for  various  rea- 
sons, the  number  had  become  a  good  deal  diminished.  This 
is  very  often  the  case.  In  1829,  when  this  class  closed 
their  college  course  and  received  the  diploma  of  Bachelor  of 
Ai'ts,  there  were  twent^^-one  graduates.  I  propose,  at  this 
point,  to  give  the  names  and  as  much  as  I  may  be  able  to 
recall  of  the  history  of  those  members  of  the  class  who  after- 
wards attained  distinction  in  their  various  spheres  or  pro- 
fessions. It  will  appear  from  the  sketches  here  presented, 
and  might  be  shown  by  similar  sketches  of  all  classes,  that 
the  attainment  of  college  honors  does  not  guarantee  infalli- 
bly the  highest  success  in  life.  There  were  three  grades 
of  honor  always  awarded  to  the  graduating  class,  and  the 
merit  of  the  members  was  estimated  according  to  the 
averaged  aggregate  of  all  the  marks  which  each  had  re- 
ceived from  tho  several  professors  in  their  various  depart- 
ments, laying  special  stress  upon  scholarship.  The  grade 
did  not  then,  as  it  does  now,  make  one  hundred  the  maxi- 
mum of  excellence  attainable.  There  were  only  three  num- 
bers used  to  indicate  relative  standing  of  students,  of  wliich 
No.  1  was  the  highest  mark  ;  and,  in  case  of  superior  excel- 
lence, to  this  was  aj^pended  an  asterisk.  The  medium 
gTade  was  marked  No.  2,  and  deficiency  was  shown  by  No. 
3.  The  highest  distinction  in  my  class  was  awarded  to  Na- 
thaniel Macon  Crawford.  He  was  first- honor  man,  and  to 
hnn  was  assigned  the  delivery  of  the  valedictory.     He  was 

167 


168  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

solus — that  is,  there  was  no  one  in  the  class  who  shared  the 
honor  with  him.  The  second  honor  was  awarded  to  Thomas 
F.  Scott  and  WiUiani  J.  Yason  jointly,  and  Scott  delivered 
the  Latin  salutatory.  The  third  honor  was  jointly  bestowed 
upon  George  F.  Pierce  and  "William  AY.  Smythe.  There 
were  also  two  sets  of  students  of  this  class  who  were  entitled 
to  speakers'  places  on  commencement  day.  One  set  con- 
sisted of  five,  among  whom  the  Faculty  decided  there  was 
full  equahty.  There  were  five  others  also  equal,  but  for 
some  reason  only  two  of  these  were  permitted  to  speak, 
most  probably  on  account  of  the  length  of  time  which  would 
be  consumed  in  the  delivery  of  so  many  as  fifteen  speeches. 
The  two  of  the  second  set  received  their  positions  by  lot ;  so 
that  we  had  twelve  orations  delivered  on  that  day  by  the 
class  of  '29.  The  names  of  the  seven  speakers  besides  the 
honor  men  were  as  follows :  James  M.  Adams,  Shaler  G. 
Hi.Uyer,  Richard  D.  Moore,  Isaac  N.  Moreland,  John  B. 
Watts,  George  F.  Heard,  and  John  N.  Waddel.  The  three 
remaining  students  of  the  second  set  who,  although  equal 
in  scholarship  to  their  colleagues,  failed  in  the  decision  by 
lot,  were  John  M.  Cuyler  and  Edward  J.  Erwin  and  (ac- 
cording to  my  recollection)  Gray  A.  Chandler.  I  can  state 
wdth  accuracy  the  subsequent  history  of  the  majority  of  my 
class,  and  of  the  rest  it  must  be  only  an  approximation  to 
the  full  record. 

Nathaniel  Macon  Crawford,  a  son  of  the  distinguished 
statesman,  AYilliam  H.  Crawford,  of  Georgia,  was  a  model 
college  student.  If  he  ever  failed  in  making  a  j)erfect  reci- 
tation, I  never  discovered  it ;  and  I  think  this  would  be  the 
statement  of  his  classmates  could  they  testify.  Although 
by  no  means  brilliant,  he  had  no  rival  in  the  class  in  accu- 
racy. Hence  he  graduated  at  the  head  of  the  class  solus. 
He  w^as  made  professor  in  the  Presbyterian  institution, 
Oglethorpe  Uni versify,  but  soon  left  that  position;  became 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  then  entered  the  min- 


Memorials  of  Classmates.  169 

istry  of  that  church.  He  was  called  to  a  professorship  in 
Mercer  University,  then  located  at  Penfield,  Ga.,  (now  at 
Macon,  Ga.,)  then  made  president  of  the  same  institution. 
In  1856  he  was  elected  to  the  chair  of  metaphysics  in  the 
University  of  Mississippi,  while  I  was  connected  with  that 
institution.  He  served  in  that  capacity  at  that  place  only 
one  year ;  and,  being  called  to  the  Baptist  College  at  George- 
town, Ky.,  he  resigned  at  Oxford  and  accepted  the  Presi- 
dency at  Georgetown.  He  remained  there  but  one  year, 
returned  to  Mercer  University,  and  then  resigned.  He 
died  near  Atlanta,  Ga.,  in  1871.  He  was  made  president 
of  the  Bible  Revision  Association;  wrote  articles  for  the 
Heviews  and  a  book  called  Christian  Paradoxes.  He  be- 
came somewhat  learned  in  his  own  system  of  theology;  was 
slightly  given  to  change  in  his  views  of  some  subjects,  and 
his  firmness  on  some  other  j^oi^ts  was  almost  i^roperly 
characterized  as  obstinacj^ 

The  next  member  of  the  class  in  the  order  of  distinction 
was  Thomas  F.  Scott,  of  North  Carolina.  He  was  the  son 
of  a  veiy  plain  man  of  excellent  sense  and  esteemed  for  his 
consistent  j)iety.  He  was  of  humble  domestic  training, 
and  was  destined  by  his  father  for  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith. 
Manifesting  promising  talents,  his  father  gave  him  some  ad- 
vantages; and  having  become  hopefully  converted,  and  de- 
termining to  prepare  for  the  ministry,  he  entered  the  Uni- 
Tersity  of  Georgia  during  my  father's  j^i'esidency,  and  was 
€ducated  upon  the  funds  of  the  Georgia  Education  Societ}^ 
a  Presb}i;erian  institution  for  candidates  for  the  ministry. 
He  was  always  on  good  terms  with  his  friends  in  Athens, 
w  ho,  seeing  his  good  qualities,  made  due  allowance  for  his 
self-conceit.  On  the  disruption  between  the  Old  and  New 
School  Presbyterian  Church,  that  occurred  in  1837,  he  joined 
the  New  School  party,  and  preached  for  a  few  years  in  that 
connection.  But  to  the  amazement  of  all  who  knew  him,  he 
entered  the  fold  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and,  as  some  criti- 


170  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

cal  acquaintances  of  his  seemed  to  think,  "he  saw  a  mitre 
beckoning  him  in  the  distance,"  and  so  he  left  the  old  church 
of  his  fathers,  became  a  link  in  the  chain  of  the  "Apostoli- 
cal Succession,"  and  Avas  appointed  missionary  bishop  of  the 
diocese  of  Oregon,  and  there  he  died.  His  colleague  in  the 
second  honor  was  '\Yilliam  J.  Vason,  a  Georgian.  Through- 
out his  entire  college  course  he  was  a  more  than  ordinary 
scholar,  as  that  word  is  applied  to  students  in  general.  He 
was  an  intellectual  man,  diligent  in  his  preparation  for  all 
his  exercises,  whether  in  the  class-room  or  in  the  literary 
society,  and  stood  high  in  all  his  classes,  and  was  a  fine  de- 
claimer  and  writer.  He  was  also  a  leader  in  the  Demos- 
thenian  Society.  After  his  graduation  he  entered  the  legal 
profession,  and,  as  was  anticipated  from  his  promising  ante- 
cedents in  his  college  course,  became  a  successful  lawyer, 
and  established  himself  first  in  New  Orleans  ;  then,  return- 
ing to  Georgia,  he  settled  in  Augusta,  in  the  practice  of  law, 
and  there  he  died. 

The  next  name  among  the  honor  men  is  that  of  George 
F.  Pierce,  who  shared  third  honor  with  "William  AY.  Smythe, 
both  Georgians.  Of  the  whole  class  he  attained  the  widest 
distinction,  and  perhaps  deservedly  reached  that  position 
on  account  of  the  rare  combination  of  attractive  qualities  he 
jDOSsessed.  During  his  college  course  he  was  a  universal 
favorite,  on  account  of  his  amiable  disposition  and  social 
temperament.  He  was,  at  the  same  time,  recognized  as  a 
person  of  positiveness  of  character,  and  was  not  in  the  least 
afraid  to  stand  \yj  his  convictions  on  all  proper  occasions. 
He  had  a  will  (jf  his  own,  but  it  was  guided  by  wisdom, 
prudence,  truth,  and  duty.  Not  extraordinary  as  a  class 
scholar,  he  was  above  mediocrity  in  all  his  studies.  He  had 
a  bright,  but  not  a  profound,  mind.  His  was  a  brilliant 
imagination,  and  a  fervid  and  animated  elocution,  graceful 
in  action,  and  withal  attractive  in  person  and  of  a  handsome 
face.     He  professed  religion  while  in  college,  and  I  remem- 


Graduating  Class  History.  171 

ber  the  scene  that  occuiTed  in  tlie  Methodist  church  when 
he  was  received  into  the  church,  his  venerable  father,  Rev. 
Dr.  Lovick  Pierce,  being  present,  and  I  shall  never  forget 
the  manifestation  of  his  father's  overwhelming  joy  on  the 
occasion.  After  graduation  he  was  received  into  the  minis- 
try of  that  church,  and  soon  became  an  eminently  useful 
preacher,  and,  from  the  very  beginning  of  his  career,  was 
appointed  to  fill  the  most  important  pulpits  and  most  promi- 
nent positions  in  that  denomination.  He  was  at  one  time 
minister  in  charge  of  the  Augusta,  Ga.,  M.  E.  church,  and 
at  another  time  the  church  in  Savannah,  Ga.,  and  again  of  the 
Methodist  church  in  Charleston,  S.  C.  In  1838  he  was  made 
President  of  the  Georgia  Female  (now  Wesleyan)  College,  in 
Macon,  Ga.  In  1848  he  was  elected  to  the  iiresidency  of 
Emory  College,  at  Oxford,  Ga.  In  1854  he  was  elected 
bishop  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  South,  when  the 
General  Conference  met  in  Columbus,  Ga ,  and  for  more 
than  thirty  years  filled  that  high  and  responsible  office  ta 
the  universal  acceptance  of  the  chm^ch  and  all  his  multitude 
of  friends  and  admirers.  His  death  occurrod  at  his  home, 
in  Sparta,  Ga.,  in  1885,  as  I  am  informed. 

Vrilham  AV.  Smythe,  his  partner  in  the  third  honor,  had 
the  reputation,  when  in  college,  of  being  the  most  brilliant 
genius  in  his  class.  During  his  first  year  there  he  w^as 
marked  out  by  every  one  as  being,  beyond  all  others,  sure 
of  the  first  honor ;  but  after  the  earlier  classes  had  been 
passed  through  by  him^  he  became  less  and  less  interested 
in  the  studies  prescribed;  was  fond  of  debating,  an  eloquent 
speaker,  studied  pohtics,  and  devoted  much  time  to  the 
study  of  general  history,  and  the  result  was  that  he  came 
out  in  the  distribution  of  honors  third,  instead  of  first. 
After  graduation  he  assumed  the  editorial  tripod,  and  pub- 
lished a  political  pa^^er  in  AYashingtou,  Ga.  When  nulhfi- 
cation  was  exciting  the  country  in  South  Carolina,  and  to 
some  extent  in  Georgia,  he  espoused  the  Union  side  of  that 


172  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

controversy,  became  uniDopular,  and  lost  caste.  Not  long 
afterwards  he  died  in  Washington,  Ga.,  never  having  rea- 
lized the  bright  promise  of  his  earlier  days. 

We  can  only  add,  that  of  the  five  men  T\-ho  attained  the 
highest  distinction  in  their  college  class  the  man  who  alone 
tept  uj)  his  reputation,  and  even  surpassed  his  promise,  at- 
taining a  fame  which  was  not  dreamed  of  by  his  friends, 
vras  Bishop  Pierce. 

As  to  the  remaining  members  of  the  class  of  1829,  they 
may  be  dismissed  with  a  brief  record  as  individuals,  some, 
however,  of  them  becoming  distinguished.  And  yet  there 
is  one  thing  to  be  said  of  the  members  of  the  class,  and 
that  is,  there  wa§  a  larger  prox^ortion  of  its  graduates  who 
-entered  the  ministry  than  of  any  of  those  who  were  in  col- 
lege dm-ing  the  period  from  1820  to  1829.  Our  class  num- 
bered twenty-one,  and  sent  forth  seven  ministers  of  various 
•chui'ches,  as  follows:  James  M.  Adams,  Presbyterian  min- 
ister ;  N.  M.  Crawford,  D.  D.,  Baptist  minister ;  George  F. 
Heard,  Baptist  minister ;  S.  G.  Hillyer,  D.  D.,  Baptist  min- 
ister; G.  F.  Pierce,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Methodist  bishop; 
Thomas  F.  Scott,  D.  T).,  E^^iscopal  bishop ;  John  N.  Wad- 
del,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Presbyterian.  Three  of  these  became 
l^residents  of  colleges  and  two  professors,  %dz.,  Crawford,  of 
two  different  institutions  and  professor  in  two ;  Pierce,  pre- 
sident of  two  different  colleges ;  Waddel,  professor  in  two 
institutions  and  president,  or  chancellor,  in  three.  Two  of 
these  were  bishops.  Pierce,  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  and 
Scott,  of  the  P.  E.  Church  South.  Of  the  remaining  mem- 
bers of  the  class  five  were  physicians,  one  of  whom  (E.  D. 
Moore,  of  Athens,)  attained  great  distinction;  five  lawj'ers, 
two  planters,  and  two  concerning  whose  post-graduate  record 
I  have  no  report.  This  I  regret,  as  they  were  both  most 
creditable  students  of  the  University.  To  sum  up  these 
statistics,  we  report  of  our  twenty-one  graduates  seventeen 
professional  men,  two  planters,  and  two  good  citizens,  even 
though  unrecorded. 


Graduating  Class  History.  173 

"With  these  students  I  passed  through  the  course  of  pre- 
scribed study  in  the  old  State  University,  from  May,  1826, 
to  August,  1829.  I  was  on  terms  of  the  kindest  social  in- 
tercourse with  all  my  classmates,  but  my  special  intimates 
were  Edward  J.  Erwin,  of  Morgant(m,  N.  C ,  and  Isaac  N. 
Moreland,  of  Eatonton,  Ga.,  and  with  these  two  a  very  reg- 
ular correspondence  was  maintained  by  me  for  some  years 
after  graduation.  Erwin  was  some  years  older  than  my- 
self, but  we  formed  a  mutual  attachment  from  being  mem- 
bers of  the  same  class  and  of  the  Phi  Kappi  (Literary)  So- 
ciety. He  was  rather  solid  than  brilliant  in  the  character 
of  his  mind.  By  reason  of  his  proficiency  in  mathematics, 
he  sustained  a  highly  respectable  standing  in  the  class.  He 
was  my  superior  in  this  department,  and  J  led  him  in  the 
classics;  so  that  we  mutually  supplemented  each  other. 
Though  not  a  member  of  the  church,  he  was  not  outbreak- 
ingly  wicked  or  dissolute.  His  domestic  training  was  of  the 
old-fashioned  style,  under  Presbyterian  parents,  which,  un- 
happily, is  becoming  obsolete  in  later  days.  I  am  convinced 
from  long  experience,  as  well  as  observation,  that  such 
training  is  almost  certain  to  exert  a  wholesome  conservative 
influence  for  life  over  children  so  trained.  Even  in  cases  of 
apparent  failure  at  some  period  of  the  life  of  a  youth,  or 
even  in  manhood,  it  is  not  seldom  blessed  of  God  to  draw 
him  back  to  the  forsaken  paths.  I  am  constrained  to  add 
that,  when  the  failure  to  realize  such  favorable  results  as 
would  be  expected  from  such  training  does  ensue  in  after 
life,  I  believe  the  failure  is  traceable  to  the  absence  of  faith- 
fulness on  the  part  of  the  parents  more  than  to  any  other 
cause.  I  base  my  confidence  in  this  position  solely  upon 
the  declaration  of  sacred  Scripture :  "  Train  up  a  child  in 
the  way  he  should  go,  and  when  he  is  old  he  will  not  de- 
part from  it."  Er win's  record  is  an  illustration  in  point. 
He  left  college  with  credit,  married  a  superior  lady,  made  a 
profession  of  rehgion,  and  became  an  influential  elder  of 


174  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

our  cliiircli.  It  was  a  kind  Providence  which  gave  me  the 
privilege  of  meeting  him  in  Charlotte,  N.  C,  and  of  spend- 
ing several  days  there  with  him  during  the  sessions  of  the 
General  AsseDil3ly  in  May,  1864. 

Of  Mor eland  I  could  say  a  great  deal,  much  of  which  is 
pleasant  and  much  that  is  sad  to  recall.  He  was  an  or- 
phan, and  was  sent  to  college  well  prej)ared.  His  guardian 
was  Hon.  Tui'ner  H.  Trippe,  of  Eatonton,  Ga.,  a  first-honor 
graduate  of  the  University,  of  the  class  of  1822.  Moreland 
was  near  my  age,  and  there  was  a  good  degree  of  congeni- 
ality between  us,  and  our  association  was  very  close  and  in- 
timate during  our  entire  college  course.  At  the  outset  he 
was  very  bright  and  promising.  In  the  Freshman  year,  and 
in  part  of  the  Sophomore  year  also,  he  was  estimated  as 
among  those  who  stood  fair  for  the  first  honor,  but  he  be- 
came negligent  of  his  studies,  and  lost  the  position  which 
he  at  first  held.  I  knew  of  one  trait  of  his  character  that 
may  have  accounted  in  part  for  his  deterioration.  He  had 
no  ambition  to  shine  in  public;  and  while  he  held  his  own 
for  the  greater  i)art  of  his  course,  in  mathematics  particu- 
larly, he  continued  his  decline  until,  from  being  marked  out 
as  a  well-assured  candidate  for  first  honor,  he  was  placed 
fourth  in  grade  at  graduation.  After  we  separated  in 
Athens  we  kept  up  correspondence  for  several  years,  and  it 
was  to  me  a  source  of  much  enjoyment.  He  was  a  man  of 
fine  mind  and  genial  temperament,  and  he  and  I  were  con- 
genial spirits  during  our  college  course.  He  was  also  ami- 
able, and  to  this  fact  I  attribute  his  decHne  in  scholarship, 
as  there  was  no  lack  of  influences  all  around  him  which 
tended  to  encourage  neglect  of  study.  AVhat  practices  or 
habits  may  have  taken  hold  of  him  to  the  production  of 
such  a  result  in  his  college  course  he  never  revealed  to  me 
at  all ;  nor  did  I  at  the  time  suspect  that  he  had  fallen  into 
the  snares  usually  laid  for  students.  He  settled  first  in  La 
Grange,  Ga.,  in  the  practice  of  law,  but  afterwards  in  Texas, 


College  Standing.  175 

then  a  Mexican  province.  There  he  became  a  very  success- 
ful land  survej'or,  as  mathematics  in  all  its  various  parts 
was  perfectly  familiar  to  him.  The  terms  on  which  he 
made  his  surveys  were,  that  one-half  of  all  the  lands  he  ran 
out  should  be  his  property  in  fee  simple.  In  this  way  he 
became  an  extensive  land-holder.  AYhen  the  Texas  revolu- 
tion against  the  Mexican  government  began,  he  became 
commander  of  an  artillery  company,  or  battery,  and  in  the 
decisive  battle  of  San  Jacinto  he  contributed  no  little  to 
that  great  victory.  After  peace  was  made,  and  Texas  be- 
came independent,  he  was  made  a  judge  in  the  land,  but 
did  not  live  much  longer.  He  is  an  illustration  of  the  j^ei  ils 
of  a  moral  natiu'e  that  siuTound  a  youth  of  the  very  bright- 
est promise  when  thrown  upon  the  world  unsupported  by 
early  pious  training  and  delivered  over  to  his  own  resources. 
My  standing  in  college  was  always  very  respectable.  My 
classical  superiority  and  my  good  standing  in  other  depart- 
ments enabled  me  to  win  very  respectable  grades,  although 
rather  deficient  in  mathematics.  I  am  constrained  to  record 
here  that  during  my  college  course  the  University  offered 
more  hmited  advantages  to  the  j)ublic  than  it  had  been  able 
to  j)resent  for  two  or  three  previous  years,  and  it  has  never 
been  so  ill-sustained  by  a  properly  organized  corps  of  in- 
structors at  any  subsequent  period  of  its  history.  I  do  not 
know  the  reason  of  this  state  of  the  case,  unless  there  was 
a  deficiency  of  funds  in  consequence  of  a  greater  call  for 
them  to  meet  other  demands.  My  father  was  filling  the 
office  of  President  to  universal  acceptance.  Dr.  Church  also 
was  giving  satisfaction  as  Professor  of  Mathematics  and 
Astronomy,  though,  after  he  gave  up  this  chair  to  accept 
the  presidency  on  my  father's  resignation,  I  was  informed 
that  the  course  of  mathematics  taught  at  that  time  was  lim- 
ited compared  with  that  of  the  more  distinguished  institu- 
tions. I  know  what  the  course  was  at  the  time  of  our  class 
connection,  and  I  have  certain  knowledge  of  the  fact  that 


17C  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

the  course  has  been  greatly  extended  since.  We  had  no 
reason  to  comj^lain  of  the  course,  and  ^ve  accepted  him  as 
an  able  professor,  and  "we  had  a  wholesome  dread  of  him  as 
a  disciplinarian.  Just  previous  to  the  beginning  of  our 
Junior  jen.r,  as  we  were  about  commencing  the  study  of  Na- 
tm'al  Philosoph3%  the  University  had  been  in  the  enjoymcDt 
of  the  invaluable  services  of  Dr.  Henry  Jackson  as  professor 
in  this  department ;  but  he  was  very  soon  laid  aside  from 
all  active  service  by  a  sudden  attack  (I  think)  of  apoplexy. 
This  chair  then  w^as  turned  over  to  his  nephew,  Professor 
James  Jackson,  previously  in  charge  of  Chemistry-,  etc.  He 
taught  Natural  Philosophy  in  connection  with  the  other 
branches  of  science,  to  which  also  there  w^as  added  instruc- 
tion in  the  French  language.  Toward  the  Major  (as  he  was 
called)  I  always  had  entertained  the  kindest  personal  feel- 
ings of  attachment,  but  my  memory  brings  him  up  as  rather 
an  inefficient  instructor.  That  he  possessed  learning  to 
some  extent,  more,  perhaps,  than  he  was  credited  for,  may 
have  been  true.  Of  that  I  was  not  competent  to  judge.  I 
know,  too,  that  he  did  not  exert  much  influence  over  the 
student  body.  He  was  a  man  of  literary  taste,  and  had  a 
good  private  library  of  the  current  literature  of  the  day. 
But  he  was  not  personally  popular  among  his  pupils.  He 
must  have  been  considered  a  consistent  Christian,  however, 
as  he  was  made  an  elder  of  the  Athens  church.  In  the 
year  1826  j)i*ospects  seemed  brightening,  as  the  scholarly 
Eev.  Stephen  Olin,  a  distinguished  Methodist  divine  from 
the  North,  was  made  Professor  of  Ethics  and  Metaphj^sics. 
"We  enjoyed  the  benefit  of  his  instruction  during  our  Sopho- 
more and  junior  years ;  but  his  health  failing,  he  resigned, 
and  although  he  was  reelected  and  returned  to  the  same 
chair,  this  occurred  fully  two  years  after  our  gi'aduation. 
He  was  a  charming  teacher,  and  universally  loved  and  es- 
teemed. He  was  also  a  great  ]30wer  in  the  j)ulpit.  He  was 
a  man  of  huge  physical  dimensions,  and  at  times  when 


College  Standing,  177 

preaching,  although  by  no  means  boisterous  or  vociferous, 
he  would  throw  such  nervous  energy  into  his  gestures,  as 
he  used  his  outstretched  arms  m  his  animation,  that  I  have 
seen  the  pulpit  shake  under  the  j)i'essure.  The  end  of  his 
history  is,  that  he  went  North,  after  presiding  over  Ran- 
dolph-Macon College  in  Virginia,  and  was  made  president 
of  the  Wesleyan  University,  in  Middletown,  Conn.,  in  1842,. 
and  there  he  ended  his  days  This  was  our  Faculty  as  ta 
president  and  professors,  to  which  were  added  three  tutors, 
Alvin  Lathrop,  a  cipher  as  to  influence  and  rej)utation,  re- 
minding one  more  of  Irving's  Ichabod  Crane  than  anything 
else^  Ei3hraim  S.  Hopping,  a  gentleman  and  a  scholar, 
already  alluded  to  in  these  pages,  as  well  as  m  reminiscences 
of  my  father.  I  was  strongly  attached  to  him,  both  as  a 
man  and  a  teacher,  and  he  was  popular  m  college  and 
among  the  citizens.  He  was  succeeded  by  an  elderly  gen- 
tleman, by  name  B.  B.  Hopkins,  who  made  no  impression 
on  my  memory,  except  that  he  wore  his  hau'  in  a  queu,  and 
occasionally  yielded  to  the  temptation  of  perpetrating  verse- 
making,  tinctured  with  an  affectation  of  dry  humor. 

But  111  the  next  year,  1830,  after  the  completion  of  our 
course,  the  trustees  elected  a  full  Professor  of  Ancient  Lan- 
guages, and  the  Faculty  became  fuller  and  more  efficient 
as  the  years  passed  on,  until  at  the  present  era  it  stands 
among  the  foremost  of  the  colleges  and  universities  of  the 
land  as  regards  facilities  and  advantages  for  acquiring  a 
finished  education. 

I  close  what  I  have  to  say  of  my  college  life  by  a  refer- 
ence to  an  experience  of  my  own  in  some  of  the  events  of 
that  period,  not  only  as  a  student,  but  as  connected  with 
outside  influences.  There  are  always  certain  exercises  form- 
ing integral  parts  of  the  curriculum  of  all  such  institutions, 
and  these  exercises  were  prominent  among  the  requirements 
in  the  University.  They  were  the  exercises  of  the  students 
in  elocution  and  composition.  The  students  of  the  Junior, 
12 


178  John  N  W.iddel,  D.  D  ,  LL.  D. 

Sophomore,  and  the  Freshman  Classes  were  required  to  de- 
claim m  the  College  Chaj)el  at  the  assembly  in  the  after- 
noon at  prayers.  Two  students  were  appointed  in  alpha- 
betical order  to  perform  this  duty  eveiy  afternoon,  for  in 
that  early  day  the  students  were  all  required  to  attend 
prayers  twice  during  the  day,  at  the  hour  of  sunrise  in  the 
morning  and  at  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  The  perform- 
ance of  original  composition  was  also  attended  to  by  the 
literary  societies.  The  exercises  of  the  annual  commence- 
ment consisted  of  three  days'  elocutionary  performances  by 
the  Sophomore,  Junior,  and  Graduating  Classes.  The  first 
day  was  devoted  to  a  Sophomore  prize  declamation,  in  which 
the  speakers  delivered  select  orations  of  eminent  men  com- 
mitted to  memory.  The  Junior  exhibition  embraced  speci- 
mens of  elocution  and  composition,  both,  by  orators  elected 
by  the  two  literary  societies  to  represent  these  bodies.  The 
Faculty  always  determined  the  number  to  be  elected  by  the 
two  societies.  In  case  the  relative  number  of  members  of 
the  class  belonging  to  each  society'  was  about  equal,  the 
number  of  speakers  was  also  equal ;  but  where  there  was  a 
majority  of  the  class  who  belonged  to  either  body,  then  that 
society  would  be  entitled  to  a  majority  of  representative 
speakers.  The  decision  of  the  Faculty  in  regard  to  the 
number  assigned  to  each  society  was  made  at  a  period  long- 
enough  for  the  speakers-elect  to  prepare  for  commencement. 
I  recall  the  case  as  it  related  to  my  class  when  wo  were 
Juniors.  As  already  stated,  there  were  twenty-one  members 
of  the  class,  of  which  there  were  thirteen  Demosthenians 
and  eight  Phi  Kappas.  The  Faculty  announced  their  de- 
cision that  the  former  should  elect  seven  speakers  and  the 
latter  only  three.  This  left  me  out,  as  I  belonged  to  the 
Phi  Kappa  Society,  and  there  were  three  of  the  class  who 
had  already  won  distinction  as  society  orators.  But  t%ie 
members  of  the  Phi  Kappa  Society,  by  one  of  the  leading 
members,  represented  to  the  Faculty  that  they  felt  injustice 


College  Declamations.  179 

had  been  meted  out  to  them  in  assigning  their  number  as 
three,  and  petitioned  to  be  allowed  one  more.     The  Faculty 
assented,  and  a  day  was  set  by  the  society  for  holding  an 
election  for  an  additional  speaker  out  of  the  remaining  five 
Phi  Kappa  juniors.     I  had  never  felt  before  any  pecuhar 
interest  personally  in  public  speaking,  but  had  always  per- 
formed this  college  duty  rather  perfunctorily  than  other- 
wise ;  but  when  I  learned  that  another  speaker  was  to  be 
elected  by  our  society,  for  the  first  time  in  my  life  the  am- 
bition to  gain  any  such  position  sprang  up  in  my  heart.    To 
be  sure,  I  used  no  electioneering  arts  that  were  improper, 
but  I  secured  the  opportunity  of  speaking  at  the  evening 
assembly  for  prayers  by  exchanging  places  with  a  friend, 
as  my  time  would  not  occur  in  regular  order  on  the  list  in 
time  for  the  election.     I  merely  designed  to  exert  my  best 
powers  of  declamation,  so  as,  if  possible,  to  make  a  favorable 
im^Dression  upon  my  fellow-students.     Accordingly,  I  took 
my  place  on  the  rostrum  on  the  occasion,  and,  having  pre- 
viously selected  an  extract  of  Curran's  celebrated  speech, 
"In  defence  of  Peter  Finnerty,"  and  practiced  declaiming 
it  most  assiduously,  and  committed  it  perfectly,  I  felt  at  the 
time  considerably  gratified  at  my  success.     So,  when  the 
election  came  on,  I  was  elected  by  a  handsome  majority.     I 
must  confess,  however,  that  after  the  victory  which  I  had 
striven  so  earnestly  to  secure  had  actually  occurred,  and  I 
began  to  realize  that  I  was  to  make  my  first  appearance  be- 
fore a  commencement  audience,  not  in  a  selected  piece,  but 
with  an  original  oration,  I,  for  the  moment,  became  over- 
whelmed by  a  consideration  of  the  responsibility  I  had  as- 
sumed, and  would  have  been  willing  to  dispense  mth  all  the 
honor.     Nevertheless,  I  set  myself  to  the  work  of  prepara- 
tion in  good  earnest,  and  by  exhibition  day  I  found  myself 
ready  to  do  my  part  to  the  best  of  my  ability. 

While  in  college  I  wrote  four  original  speeches.     This 
Junior  oration  was  my  first.     It  was  the  arrangement  estab- 


180  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

lishecl  then  that  the  Academic  year  was  divided  into  three 
terms,  viz. :  The  first  term  began  about  the  first  week  in 
August,  and  ended  about  the  middle  of  November,  the  long 
vacation  taking  place  then  and  continuing  until  the  middle 
of  January;  the  second  term  began  then  and  closed  in 
April;  the  third  term  began  about  May  1st  and  closed 
August  1st.  At  the  end  of  each  term  the  senior  class  was 
expected  to  deliver  original  speeches.  I  in  common  with 
my  classmates  discharged  this  duty  as  a  Senior  three  times. 
These  three  speeches,  together  with  my  Junior  oration,  make 
four  original  speeches  delivered  by  me  while  in  college. 
The  subjects  of  these  youthful  efforts  are  recorded  as  fol- 
lows: First  (or  Junior)  speech,  "Resolution  essential  to 
success";  second  (or  first  Senior)  speech,  "It  is  better  to 
be  totally  forgotten  than  to  be  remembered  only  to  be  exe- 
crated"; third  (or  second  Senior)  speech,  "Equality  of  male 
and  female  intellect";  fourth  (or  Graduating)  speech,  "The 
inferiority  of  American  literatui'e."  My  first  speech  was 
delivered  in  1828,  when  I  was  but  sixteen  years,  four 
months,  and  three  days  old ;  my  last  when  I  was  one  year 
older 


CHAPTEK  IV. 

Beflections. — Sketch  of  Athens  Life  After  Gradtjatiok — Re- 
moval TO  South  Cakolina,  and  Peospects  of  Beginning  the  Life 
OF  A  Teachek. 

THE  questioai  has  often  presented  itself  to  my  mind, 
Would  it  not  have  been  better  on  the  whole  if  I  had 
just  then,  at  my  immature  age,  entered  upon  a  college  life, 
and,  with  the  benefit  of  my  experience  acquired  during  the 
under-graduate  course,  might  I  not  have  made  greater  ad- 
vances in  knowledge,  and  would  I  not  in  all  ^probability  have 
been  better  prepared  to  enter  upon  the  work  of  real  life  ? 
I  have  often  found  myself  ready  to  decide  that  it  would 
have  been  a  wise  and  profitable  couree  for  me;  but  as  I 
now  look  back  through  my  subsequent  course  of  life,  with 
the  reflected  light  of  the  more  than  three-score  and  ten 
years  of  experience  I  have  stored  up,  I  am  constrained  to 
beheve  that  all  my  steps  have  been  wisely  ordered  to  the 
accomplishment  of  the  purposes  of  an  infinitely  wise  God. 
I  am  now  fully  persuaded  that,  had  I  taken  a  second  com'se, 
there  is  no  rational  ground  to  believe  it  would  have  effected 
any  material  change,  or  that  it  would  have  resulted  in  any 
signal  advantage  to  myself  or  to  those  with  whom  I  have 
been  associated.  True,  I  had  not  been  as  diligent  as  I 
should  have  been  while  in  college,  but  I  doubt  much  that  a 
repetition  of  the  course  would  have  been  attended  with  any 
increase  of  dihgence.  The  life  w^hich,  in  God's  pro^ddence, 
I  have  been  directed  to  lead,  the  sphere  in  which  I  have 
been  moving,  and  in  which  I  have  toiled  mainly  for  nearly 
sixty  years  (I  mean  that  of  a  teacher),  has  been  attended 
with  a  constant  stimulus,  urging  me  to  increased  exertion, 

181 


182  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL  D. 

and  I  have  not  been  permitted  to  consult  my  ease  or  to  in- 
dulge an  indolent  spirit.  When  I  began  to  teach  I  was  not 
called  upon  to  lead  those  who  were  only  just  beginning  their 
scholastic  course;  but  the  work  before  me,  and  into  which  I 
found  myself  compelled  to  enter,  was  to  give  instruction  in 
the  classics  and  mathematics.  While,  therefore,  my  pro- 
ficiency in  language  made  the  teaching  of  this  department 
comparatively  pleasant  and  easy,  yet  I  found  that  the  kind 
of  study  and  the  amount  of  it  that  I  w  as  bound  to  pursue 
as  a  teacher  w^as  a  very  different  matter  compared  with  that 
expected  and  required  of  a  college  student ;  so,  under  this 
wholesome  and  abiding  pressure,  I  gave  my  entire  energies 
to  the  ^eat  work  which  was  before  me,  promising  success 
if  diligently  continued,  and  threatening  disgrace  and  disas- 
ter if  neglected  or  unfaithfully  pursued.  This  stimulus 
would  not  have  been  brought  to  bear  upon  me  in  college, 
and  I  deem  it  a  great  blessing  that  I  was  made  (somewhat 
reluctantly,  I  admit,  at  first)  a  teacher  and  began  this  work 
when  only  eighteen  years  of  age.  I  mastered  branches,  as 
a  teacher,  with  which  I  would  never  have  become  familiar 
had  I  been  influenced  only  by  the  usages  of  colleges.  But 
I  am  anticij^ating. 

In  the  d;i3's  just  then  passing  Athens  was  the  centre  of 
attraction  to  me,  very  far  above  any  place  on  earth.  Every 
feature  in  the  landscape  was  full  of  charm  to  me.  Even  the 
old  red-clay  hills,  the  granite  bluffs  of  the  little  winding 
river  Oconee,  the  artificial  water-fall  made  by  the  mill-dam, 
the  college  campus,  with  its  fine  old  oaks,  the  familiar 
dwellings  and  cultivated  lawns  and  flower-beds,  the  build- 
ings, libraries,  and  other  appointments  of  the  old  Universit}', 
furnished  to  my  untravelled  mind  an  exhaustless  supply  of 
mental  aliment  that  could  hardly  be  surpassed,  Then 
there  were  the  walks  and  rides  I  often  enjoyed  with  friends 
in  the  environs  of  the  town  and  the  thousand  attendant  as- 
sociations of  the  place,  which  cannot  be  enumerated,  all 


Attackment  to  Athens.  183 

contributing  to  make  it  a  dear  and  cherished  home  of  my 
youth.  But  the  time  was  hastening  on  apace  when  I  was 
to  leave  this  spot  so  dear  to  my  heart.  "Wlieu  I  did  leave  it 
afterwards,  forming  new  homes  in  various  parts  of  the 
world,  I  found  two  things  to  follow  in  my  experience :  1. 
Although  I  became  attached  to  other  spots,  yet  none  such 
attachments  as  those  to  Athens  were  ever  formed.  2.  Athens 
itself  lost  afterwards  its  charm  for  me.  I  account  for  this, 
on  two  principles :  First,  The  days  of  my  youth  spent  there 
were  free  from  caro  and  anxiety.  There  were  others  who 
freed  me  from  all  the  responsibihty  of  life.  I  had  nothings 
to  interfere  with  my  enjoyments,  and  so  it  was  a  sort  of  ro- 
mantic, poetical  life;  unreal,  I  admit,  yet  I  enjoyed  it. 
Then  I  owed  much  to  the  associations  and  the  friends  of 
my  boyhood  at  that  period.  On  a  visit  to  Athens,  many 
years  after,  I  found  this  impressed  upon  me  (although  I  had 
kno^-n  it  before),  that  nothing  stands  still  in  this  world. 
The  little  town  had  become  a  city.  City  customs  had  en- 
sued. Boys  and  girls  whom  I  had  known  and  loved  had  re- 
moved from  the  old  town,  or,  if  they  still  remained,  had 
become  changed  into  busy,  thoughtful  heads  of  famihes, 
merchants,  la^syers,  physicians,  politicians,  mothers,  and 
fathers,  with  new  cares  pressing  upon  them,  the  old  ro- 
mance of  hf e  gone  forever,  besides  the  fact  that  a  multitude 
of  strange  faces  met  me  on  the  streets,  on  the  campus,  and 
in  all  the  thoroughfares.  So  I  concluded  that  my  Athens 
was  "  clean  gone  forever ! "  Henceforward,  as  to  local  at- 
tachments, I  have  felt  like  a  sb'anger  and  a  pilgrim  on 
earth.  I  have  had  homes,  happy  homes,  elsewhere  and  in 
after  times ;  for  with  me  it  is  true  that 

"  'Tis  liorne  where'er  the  heart  is;  " 
yet,  I  have  known  of  no  such  local  attachments  at  any  place 
as  those  existing  towards  the  Athens  of  1819-'29. 

My  mode  of  life  during  the  six  months  or  more  after  my 
graduation,  until  my  removal  to  South  Carolina,  was  rather 


184  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

desultory  and  inactive.  I  read  some  history;  I  visited  oc- 
casionally; made  a  trip  or  two  to  Willington  on  business,  and 
was  more  or  less  unemployed.  The  subject  of  my  future 
occupation  in  connection  with  the  business  of  making-  a  liv- 
ing, or  exerting  useful  influence,  had  not  presented  itself 
to  me  for  serious  consideration.  I  remember  that,  at  one 
time  in  my  youth,  there  was  an  impression  prevalent  in  our 
family, — and  I  shared  in  this  impression  to  some  extent, — 
that  I  was  to  be  a  preacher.  It  was  but  a  transient  im- 
pression, however,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that,  in  the  view  of 
my  parents,  "the  wish  was  father  to  the  thought,"  and  I 
think  it  was  soon  laid  aside  and  abandoned  by  them  all ;  I 
know  it  passed  away  from  my  mind,  nor  did  it  return  for 
long  years  afterwards. 

It  was  once  suggested  to  me  by  one  of  my  brothers  that 
I  should  study  law.  But  that  profession  offered  to  me  no 
attractions  at  all,  and  the  suggestion  made  no  impression 
ivhatever  on  my  mind.  I  am  thankful  now  that  I  never 
liad  inchnation  in  that  direction.  About  this  time  I  recall 
an  occurrence,  that  some  might  consider  merely  casual,  and 
so  it  seemed  then  to  me.  It,  however,  I  have  since  thought, 
settled  the  question  of  my  destination  in  part  it  least.  My 
teacher,  Mr.  Dobbins,  who  was  also  my  first  cousin,  and  my 
eldest  brother,  James  (both  ^professional  teachers),  were  vis- 
iting at  my  father's,  during  my  unemployed  time  after 
graduation,  and  in  the  course  of  the  conversation  the  ques- 
tion was  asked  by  one  of  the  visitors,  addressed  to  my  father: 
""What  are  you  going  to  make  of  John?"  To  which  he 
promptly  replied:  "A  teacher."  They  both  gave  the  opin- 
ion that  he  '^  would  do  better  to  put  me  to  the  plough," 
(i.  e.)  make  a  farmer  of  me.  But  he  w^as  immovable.  The 
ground  of  theii*  expressed  opinion,  as  well  as  I  recall  it,  was 
that  the  management  of  boys  in  that  age  had  become  a 
matter  of  very  great  difficulty.  My  father  said  nothing 
more  to  me  on  the  subject  at  that  time,  but  he  had  it  aU. 


Adopts  the  Professioii  of  Teacher.  185 

arranged  in  his  own  mind,  and  it  was  decided,  not  only  that 
I  was  to  be  teacher,  but  the  x^lace  of  my  first  efforts  in  that 
line  w^as  even  then  fixed,  no  doubt.  It  became  known  in 
some  way  that  teaching  would  be  my  occupation,  and  an 
application  came  for  my  sei'vices  from  an  insignificant  little 
X)lace,  called  Mallorysville,  on  the  direct  route  from  Athens 
to  Willington.  It  was  a  very  small,  miserable  place,  more 
famed  for  being  a  resort  for  those  who  were  fond  of  the 
saloon  than  for  anything.  To  this  place  I  w\as  invited  to  go 
and  take  charge  of  the  town-school,  with  a  salary  of  four 
hundred  dollars  and  board  as  my  compensation.  But  my 
father  strenuously  objected  to  the  plan,  and  I  think  wdsely. 
His  reasons  for  his  decision  were  my  youthful  age,  and  the 
undesirableness  of  the  society. 

The  world  moved  on,  time  passed  away  in  the  usual  mo- 
notonous manner  until  February,  1830,  when,  all  needed 
preparations  having  been  made,  leave-taking  public  and 
private  having  occurred,  the  family,  consisting  of  my  father, 
mother,  younger  sister,  brother  William  and  his  newly-mar- 
ried wife  {nee  Miss  HilHard),  with  myself,  left  Atbens,  and 
in  due  course  of  time  were  all  domiciled  once  more  upon 
the  soil  that  we  had  abandoned  ten  years  previously,  and 
which  gave  the  most  of  us  birth. 


CHAPTER  Y. 

First  School. — Death  or  my  Mother. — Country  Life. — A  CoLUEGJar 
Associate. — My  Habits. 

ON  our  settlement  once  more  at  old  Willington,  after  our 
long  exile  from  its  familiar  scenes,  the  first  object  before 
us  was  to  engage  in  some  occupation  adapted  to  our  present 
circumstances  and  surroundings,  each  in  his  own  specialty. 
My  father  arranged  his  preaching  appointments  at  Willing- 
ton  and  Eockj  River;  he  superintended  and  directed  the 
buildings,  and  prepared  to  carry  on  his  farming  operations, 
making  the  needed  efforts  to  ensure  a  comfortable  living. 
My  brother  William,  who,  in  his  filial  devotion  to  his  mo- 
ther, had  given  up  a  prospect  of  lucrative  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Athens,  in  order  to  attend  her  in  her  last  ill- 
ness and  mitigate  her  sufferings  as  far  as  possible,  was  just 
beginning  to  establish  himself  as  a  physician  in  the  neighbor- 
hoodo  I,  too,  was  now  to  assume  the  office  of  a  teacher  for 
the  first  time,  and  accordingly  on  Monday  morning,  March 
1,  1830,  I  made  my  debut  as  a  pedagogue.  The  room  used 
for  the  purposes  of  the  school  had  been  once  occupied  as  a 
store,  and  afterwards  as  the  office  of  a  physician  of  the  olden 
time  of  Willington,  who  had  long  passed  away.  It  was  in 
rather  a  dilapidated  condition,  but  was  soon  j)ut  in  condition 
to  answer  the  purpose  of  a  school-room.  It  was  located  im- 
mediately  on  the  great  market  road  to  Augusta,  Ga. 

Here  I  began  a  career  which,  with  a  short  interval,  I  have 
prosecuted  as  my  main  life-work  during  a  period  of  more 
than  half  a  century.  Better  and  more  convenient  arrange- 
ments for  the  school-work  were  pro^dded  in  due  course  of 
time,   and  in  a  few  years  after,  a  respectable  house  was 

186 


FmsT  School  and  Pupils.  187 

erected  at  another  place  iu  the  neighborhood,  as  the  number 
of  students  in  attendance  began  to  increase  and  the  reputa- 
tion of  the  school  was  extended.  During  the  first  year  of 
its  existence  the  number  of  students  was  not  large,  and  but 
few  much  advanced.  I  remember  only  one,  however,  who 
was  ignorant  of  the  first  princij^les  of  English.  He  was  a 
bright  httle  fellow,  by  name  James  Clay,  and  about  him  I 
have  always  remembered  two  things ;  1,  He  was  the  only 
pupil  whom  I  ever  taught  to  read.  2,  He  was  among  the 
very  best  readers  I  have  ever  known.  Of  the  rest,  there 
were  three  young  men,  all  my  seniors  in  age,  and  one  of 
them  seven  years  older  than  myself.  The  three  were 
engaged  in  the  higher  branches  of  stud}-,  and  their  names 
were  respectively,  James  F.  Gibert,  David  Willard,  and 
Williams  Truwitt.  The  first  of  these  I  prepared  for  the 
University  of  Georgia,  where  he  was  graduated  in  the  class 
of  1834.  Subsequently  he  finished  his  Theological  course  of 
study  at  the  Columbia  Seminary,  and  filled  the  pulpit  of  the 
Lebanon  Church,  near  Abbeville,  S.  C,  for  many  years  with 
great  acceptance  and  usefulness,  and  there  he  ended  his  life 
of  toil  in  the  ministry-  only  a  few  years  since.  David  "Wil- 
lard, prepared  himself  to  be  a  teacher,  and,  after  spending 
some  time  with  me,  he  went  West  and  taught  many  years 
there,  nor  did  I  hear  of  him  for  ten  years.  About  the  year 
1842,  when  I  had  established  a  High-schooi  in  Eastern  Mis- 
sissip23i,  as  I  was  engaged  in  teaching,  he  entered  the  room. 
and  announced  himself  as  David  Willard,  my  former  pupil 
at  Willington.  He  had  grown  c[uite  gray,  in  old  bachelor- 
hood, and  proposed  to  me  to  become  a  pupil  of  mine  again. 
After  giving  an  outline  of  his  history  from  the  period  of  our 
separation,  he  stated  that  he  had  lost  several  good  schools 
by  reason  of  his  ignorance  of  Theoretical  and  Practical  Sur- 
veying, and  that  the  object  of  his  present  visit  was  to  get 
from  me  the  necessary  instruction  in  that  department.  He 
remained  with  me  for  some  time,  and  as  that  subject  was 


188  John  L.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

one  I  had  been  teaching,  and  in  which  I  then  had  a  class  of 
students,  he  entered  the  school  and  soon  mastered  the  sub- 
ject, and  "went  on  his  way  rejcicing."  The  third  of  these 
students  of  my  first  school  was  ^yilliams  Truwitt,  who 
became  a  merchant,  and  settled  in  Mobile,  where  I  met 
him  once  at  least,  if  not  more  than  once.  I  have  lost  sight 
and  knowledge  of  him. 

If  I  mistake  not  as  to  the  time,  it  was  in  the  year  1831 
that  I  had  three  very  small  boys,  who  came  over  from 
Lincoln  County,  Ga.,  just  beyond  the  Savannah  River, 
whose  names  were  Da\dd  Remson,  Jackson  Currj-,  and 
Jabez  L.  M.  Curry.  Of  the  history  of  the  first  of  these  I 
have  no  knowledge;  he  was  a  fine  manly  orderly  boy  at 
school.  The  second  was  graduated  at  Athens,  Ga.,  in  the 
Olass  of  1842,  and  died  in  the  service  of  the  Confederate 
States.  The  third  is  the  distinguished  Jabez  Lamar  Mon- 
roe Curry,  who  w^as  graduated  also  at  Athens  in  the  Class 
of  1843,  and  has  filled  with  such  phenomenal  success  many 
of  the  highest  and  most  responsible  positions  in  the  United 
States. 

I  must  be  permitted  just  here  to  be  somewhat  personal, 
without  being  chargeable  w'ith  egotism.  I  have  already 
stated  in  a  preceding  chapter  that  I  passed  through  col- 
lege wdth  a  respectable  standing  as  a  student,  and  I  have 
tried  to  show  that  the  kind  of  application  expected  and 
demanded  of  a  teacher  was  of  a  character  totally  differing 
in  degree  from  that  w^hich  might  be  admitted  in  the  case  of 
a  college  student.  Of  myself,  I  may  say  that  I  never  had 
known  what  genuine,  close  appHcation  to  study  was  until  I 
began  to  teach.  I  found  in  myself  a  principle  at  the  very 
outset  which  has  acted  upon  me  throughout  my  whole  teach- 
ing Hfe  as  a  stimulus  to  study.  It  was  a  di'ead  of  failure  in 
the  discharge  of  the  functions  of  a  teacher.  This  led  to  the 
formation  of  a  resolution,  which  never  lost  its  power  over 
me,  viz. :  that  I  never  should  appear  before  a  class  in  reci- 


The  Teacher's  Influence.  189 

tatiou  without  having  thoroughly  mastered  the  subject 
beforehand.  From  this  resohitiou  it  has  been  my  unvary- 
ing purpose  never  to  depart.  I  commend  the  practice  to  all 
•who  undertake  the  great  responsibility  of  training  the  j'oung 
mentally,  as  well  as  morally.  I  add  the  word  7noralhj  be- 
cause of  my  deep  conviction  that  the  moral  training  of 
youth  is  inseparably  connected  with  the  mental  instruction 
imparted.  Furthermore,  the  moral  character  of  the  teacher, 
as  he  appears  before  his  pupils  day  by  day,  is  one  of  the 
most  potent  elements  in  the  estabhshment  of  a  proper  influ- 
ence over  them.  This  is  what  has  been  understood  by  the 
term  "unconscious  tuition."  A  teacher,  therefore,  who  so 
far  ignores  his  obligations  as  to  allow  himself  to  be  found 
guilty  of  ignorance  of  the  subject  he  professes  to  teach  is 
thereby  (by  example)  encouraging  deception,  or  the  attempt 
to  deceive,  and  exposing  himself  to  deserved  contem23t  of  his 
pupils.  As  a  general  fact,  no  critics  are  so  prompt  and  cor- 
rect in  detecting  such  unworthy  pretensions  as  those  who 
are  in  the  attitude  of  learners.  A  true  teacher,  of  course, 
would  prefer  the  reputation  of  being  upright  and  honest  to 
that  of  learning,  and  if  he  has  committed  an  error  in  his 
instructions,  will  be  the  first  to  acknowledge  it  and  to  cor- 
rect it.  But  the  safer  plan  to  be  adopted  is  always  to  j)re- 
pare  himself  thoroughly  and  minutely  on  every  detail  of  the 
subject  of  instruction,  so  as  to  avoid  the  charge  of  professing 
to  teach  that  of  which  he  is  ignorant.  Perhaps  this  habit, 
in  my  case,  might  have  influenced  me  to  thorough  prelimi- 
nary preparation  in  any  other  profession.  But  I  am  con- 
scious that  it  has  exerted  a  wholesome  influence  over  me  aU 
through  my  career  as  a  teacher,  and  that  in  this  way  I  have 
been  enabled  to  do  better  work,  and  that  I  have  accom- 
phshed  a  greater  amount  of  good  for  myseK  and  for  others, 
than  I  could  have  done  in  any  other  department  of  human 
effort. 

But  to  resume  my  story,  about  a  month  after  I  had  com- 


190  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D  ,  LL.  D. 

menced  my  labors  as  a  teacher,  I  was  awakened  one  morn- 
ing very  early  by  a  servant  Tsith  the  intelligence  that  my 
mother  had  been  violently  attacked  with  one  of  the  par- 
oxysms of  her  disease,  and  w^as  worse  than  usual.     It  was 
the  morning  of  the  Sabbath,  April  4th,  1830,  a  bright  and 
lovely  spring   day.      "When  I  entered   her   room  she  was 
walking  about,  leaning  upon  my  father's  arm,  for  such  was 
her  bodily  agony  that  she  could  not  recline  upon  the  bed. 
All  the  absent  members  of  the  family  had  arrived  except 
one,  and  were  present  to  \N-itness  her  dying  struggle.     She 
was  in  constant  pain,  and  could  speak  little  and  only  in 
ejaculatory  praj^er.     She  continued  to  w^alk  the  floor  with- 
out our  being  able  to  relievo  her  in  the  least,  until  at  last 
she  became  exhausted  and  was  placed  upon  her  bed.     Yet 
even  here  such  were  her  unutterable  tortures  that  it  was 
with  difficulty  she  could  be  kept  in  bed  by  two  of  us,  and, 
after  at  least  eight  hours  of  mortal  agony,  she  sank  back 
and  died  in  m}'  arms.     She  was  about  fifty-nine  years  of 
age.     She  was  the  daughter  of  Jesse  Pleasants,  of  Powha- 
tan county,  Va.,  and  there  she  was  born.     This  was  my  first 
great   sorrow.      My  father  was  not   demonstrative  to  his 
children,  but  he  doubtless  felt  a  warm  affection  for  them 
all.     But  none  of  us  ever  doubted  the  deep  and  absorbing 
tenderness  of  her  love  for  us.     Oh,  how  dark  did  the  world 
aj^pear  to  me  on  that  bright  Sabbath  day !     Gloom  for  the 
time  settled  down  upon  the  futm-e,  and  I  felt  as  I  had  never 
felt  before,  but  as  I  have  often  felt  si?ice,  that  life's  charm 
for  me  was  fled  forever !     We  buried  her  in  the  grand  and 
beautiful  old  oak  grove  around  the  church,  and  there  we 
left  her  to  sleep  in  Jesus  till  the  resurrection  morn.     She 
Hved  to  see  all  her  children  grown  and  three  of  them  mar- 
ried.    During  her  married  life  no  death  had  occurred  in 
her  immediate  family.     Soon  after  her  death  there  was  a 
general  dispersion  of  the  family.     Dr.  WilHam  W.  ATaddel, 
the  thu'd  son,  having  accomphshed  the  end  for  which  he 


A  Reconcilia-tiox.  191 

liad  accompanied  the  family  to  WilliDgton,  viz.,  to  attend 
upon  our  mother  as  long  as  she  required  his  attention,  felt, 
under  the  circumstances,  that  it  was  no  longer  obligatory 
on  him  to  sacrifice  what  he  believed  to  be  his  professional 
interests  by  buiying  himself  in  the  country  in  a  region 
already  supplied  with  physicians.  He  returned  to  Athens 
and  made  that  his  home.  My  sister  Mary  Anna  accom- 
panied him,  and  spent  some  time  with  his  family  and  other 
friends.  My  elder  sister  returned  to  her  home  in  South 
Georgia.  My  brother,  Rev.  I.  W.  Waddel,  returned  to  his 
field  of  labor  in  Georgia.  My  father  was  absent  from  home 
a  great  deal  of  the  time.  I  was  left  alone,  with  no  white 
person  to  break  the  solitude,  except  the  housekeeper  and 
her  son,  a  boy  of  nine  or  ten  years  of  age.  It  was  a  lonely 
sort  of  life  to  which  I  was  consigned,  and  my  only  resource, 
when  not  employed  in  teaching  or  studying,  was  in  receiv- 
ing and  answering  letters  from  my  friends  and  classmates 
abroad. 

I  think  it  was  during  this  year  that  a  college  friend, 
George  McDuffie  Vance,  between  whom  and  myself  quite 
an  intimacy  had  grown  up  at  Athens,  came  and  took  up  his 
abode  in  the  neighborhood.  He  was  a  nephew  of  Hon. 
GeorgG  McDuffie,  and  came  to  reside  with  his  uncle  at 
Cherry  Hill,  his  beautiful  country  seat,  which  was  only  a 
mile  distant  from  my  father's  residence.  Unfortunately, 
dm-ing  our  college  course,  a  society  collision  had  occurred 
between  us,  and  we  had  not  spoken,  nor  had  we  held  inter- 
course with  each  other,  for  about  two  years  previous  to  his 
time  of  arrival.  The  embarrassment  into  which  we  were 
thrown  by  a  constant  habilit}'  of  meeting,  and  yet  forbidden 
by  pride  to  exchange  words  even  of  social  com-tesy,  induced 
in  us  the  consideration  of  a  more  rational  method  of  H\dn"- 

o 

"UTiether  or  not  I  should  ever  have  made  the  initiative  of  a 
reconciliation  I  do  not  know.  It  would  have  reflected  no 
discredit  upon  me  at  all  as  I  now  review  the  matter,  but  as 


192  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

I  remember  the  origin  of  the  case,  I  was  not  the  aggressor. 
Still  not  a  vestige  of  ill-feeling  or  enmity  had  ever  been 
cherished  by  myself  toward  him.  Time  is  a  gentle  and 
soothing  healer  of  womids  inflicted  in  such  contests.  Ac- 
cordingly, my  surprise  was  a  very  agreeable  one  when  one 
day,  as  I  sat  in  my  school-room,  a  servant  rode  up  and 
handed  me  a  note  from  George  to  this  effect : 

"Deak  Sir  :  We  are  placed  in  an  awkward  position  rela- 
tive to  each  other,  living  in  the  same  neighborhood,  and 
constantly  thrown  together  without  intercourse.  I  assure 
you  that  I  have  never  suffered  my  feehngs  to  become  embit- 
tered towards  you  in  any  degree.  If,  therefore,  you  are 
willing  to  'bury  the  hatchet,'  and  to  meet  me  as  a  friend,. 
I  should  be  glad  to  have  you  signify  it  by  a  note. 

George  M.  Vance." 

Of  course,  I  gladly  acceded  to  this  frank  and  gentlemanly 
proposition,  and  w^e  continued,  ever  afterwards,  the  most 
sincere  friends,  and  his  society  tended  very  materially  ta 
the  mitigation  of  my  loneliness. 

My  first  year's  income  amounted  to  something  above  $300 ; 
but  really  I  needed  little,  as  I  paid  no  board  expenses, 
Hving  as  I  did  at  home.  At  this  period  of  my  life  I  w^as 
free  from  aspirations  for  great  things ;  I  gave  no  thought  to 
any  greater  position  than  was  then  assigned  me,  supposing 
that  there  was  none  such  in  reserve  for  me  in  the  future. 
Perhaps  I  may  best  describe  my  condition  of  mind  as  one  of 
quiescence.  My  morals  were  good.  I  taught  five  days  in 
the  week,  studied  hard  at  night,  sometimes  courted  the 
Muses,  visited  to  some  extent;  rode  to  the  post-office  occa- 
sionally, attended  jDreaching,  without  receiving  the  impres- 
sion from  it  that  was  due ;  admired  the  girls  without  falling 
in  love  with  them,  and  so  closed  the  year  1830,  quietly  and 
contentedly,  if  not  profitably. 


CHAPTER  YI. 

My  Feelings  and  Views  on  the  Subject  of  Eeligion. — My  Fathee's 
Preaching,  and  my  Views  op  it  at  that  Time. — Some  Notice  of 
Me.  McDitfie  and  Others  of  his  Neighbors. 

IT  is  of  some  interest  doubtless  to  my  friends  to  know 
something  of  my  iDersonal  views  and  feelings  upon  the 
all-important  subject  of  religion.  I  had  reached  my  nine- 
teenth  year;  I  was  known  to  be  a  moral  young  man;  had 
been  religiously  trained  from  my  childhood ;  and  attended 
all  the  services  of  rehgious  worship)  within  my  reach.  But 
I  had  never  made  a  public  profession  of  religion,  and  yet  I 
do  not  think  that  I  could  be  called  a  hardened  sinner,  and 
I  am  sure  I  was  not  habitually  "walking  in  the  counsel  of 
the  ungodly;"  I  never  used  profane  language  ;  I  never  was 
intoxicated  with  ardent  spirits;  nor  was  I  a  brawler,  or 
fond  of  controversy,  either  mental  or  physical ;  nor  did  I  ever 
descend  to  the  lower'  deeps  of  vice.  Yet  I  look  back  with 
shame,  and  regret  the  facts  of  my  history  and  character  as 
they  then  existed.  In  the  midst  of  all  the  precious  oj)por- 
timities  and  advantages  by  which  I  had  been  surrounded 
during  all  my  previous  life,  the  truth  is  that  I  was  a  careless 
and  indifferent  sinner,  nor  do  I  beheve  that  I  had  ever  been 
very  seriously  impressed  upon  the  subject  of  religion.  I 
remember  that,  during  my  childhood,  I  had  a  dream,  re- 
peated more  than  once,  that  the  judgment-day  had  come. 
This  resulted,  I  think,  from  a  catechetical  exercise  conducted 
by  my  father  every  Sabbath  evening,  in  which  all  the  chil- 
dren of  the  family  and  servants  were  taught  a  simj)le  system 
of  divine  truth,  the  closing  questions  and  answers  of  which, 
were  as  folio  wa: 

193 


194  John  N.  Waddel,  T>.  T>.,  LL.  D. 

*'QuES.  "NMien  will  Jesus  Christ  come  again?" 

"Ans.  At  the  last  day." 

'' QuES.  ^Yhat  will  He  come  for?" 

"Ans.  To  judge  the  world."  i 

"QuES.  ^Yho  will  be  judged?" 

"Ans.  Men  and  devils." 

"QuEs.  "Who  will  be  on  His  right  hand  ?" 

*'Ans.  The  righteous." 

*'  QuES.  Who  will  be  placed  on  His  left  hand  ?" 

*'Ans.  The  wicked." 

"  QuES.  AYhat  will  He  say  to  the  righteous?" 

"Axs.  Come,  ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the  king- 
dom prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation  of  the  world." 

''QuES.  ^Yhat  will  He  say  to  the  wicked?" 

*'Ans.  Depart,  ye  cui'sed,  into  everlasting  fire,  x:)repared 
for  the  devil  and  his  angels." 

My  dream  presented  a  view  of  this  awful  scene :  the  person 
of  the  Lord  Jesus,  sitting  upon  the  clouds,  with  outstretched 
arms,  with  a  long  line  of  j)ersons  on  each  hand!  But  in 
every  repetition  of  the  dream,  I  was  condemned  to  the  left 
hand,  to  my  unspeakable  terror.  But  though  this  feeling 
and  impression  was  very  dreadful  for  a  time,  it  was  soon 
banished,  and  did  not  prevent  me  from  the  usual  enjoy- 
ments of  careless  childhood.  I  call  to  mind  also  the  fact, 
that  during  my  college  life,  when  there  occurred  a  meeting 
of  more  than  ordinary  interest  in  the  community  of  Athens, 
and  among  the  students,  under  the  preaching  of  such  liien 
of  God  as  Eev.  J.  C.  Stiles,  Rev.  S.  S.  Davis,  and  Rev.  A.  H. 
Webster,  I  went  with  others  to  the  front  seat  in  the  chapel 
where  the  services  were  conducted,  and  signified  in  this  way 
my  desire  to  be  prayed  for  by  the  people  of  God.  But  I 
was  then  not  very  deej^ly  moved,  or  under  conviction,  as  I 
have  no  recollection  of  going  forward  again.  Another  re- 
miniscence comes  up,  connected  with  this  subject  wmch  will 


Indifference  Toward  Religion.  195 

sliow  my  indifference  to  the  matter  of  personal  religion  more 
clearly  still.  Some  time  after  these  meetings  had  closed, 
I  was  riding  with  my  father  out  to  a  country  chm'ch  near 
Athens,  known  by  the  name  of  "  Sandy  Creek,"  where  he 
sometimes  preached,  and  he  said  to  me  among  other  things, 
that  he  had  requested  Eev.  J.  0.  Stiles  to  have  a  private 
conversation  Avith  me  on  the  subject  of  religion,  and  that  he 
had  reported  the  result  of  that  interview  in  these  words, 
"He  is  bullet-proof!" 

The  Doctor  may  have  used  language  somewhat  over- 
wi'ought,  as  his  method  of  expression  w^as  always  vigor- 
ous; but  all  he  meant  by  it  was  that  he  had  made  no  im- 
pression on  me  that  he  could  perceive.  He  did,  however, 
reach  me  to  a  greater  extent  than  he  supposed.  I  felt  the 
effect  of  his  conference,  though  it  passed  away  for  the  time 
being,  and  the  consideration  of  my  spiritual  state  rela^^sed 
into  quiet  and  untroubled  indifference  again,  and  I  continued 
in  the  postponement  of  this  subject  for  many  years  after. 
My  father,  on  the  occasion  referred  to,  made  no  comment 
upon  the  case,  save  to  express  his  surprise  and  deep  sorroW' 
when  the  rej)ort  was  made  to  him  of  the  result  of  the  inter- 
view. So  it  passed.  It  may  be  here  stated,  by  w^ay  of  antici- 
pation, that  this  noble  and  godly  minister  of  Jesus  Christ, 
Dr.  Stiles,  lived  to  meet  me  long  j^ears  after  that  fruitless 
interview,  as  a  minister  of  the  blessed  gospel  which  I  then 
declined  in  my  folly  to  embrace. 

I  have  not  given  a  full  statement  of  some  of  the  charac- 
teristics of  my  father's  style  of  preaching,  and  it  may  as 
well  be  given  here.  I  attended  his  preaching  dming  this 
period  of  my  life,  when  I  was  more  competent  to  judge  of 
such  subjects  than  I  had  ever  been  j)reviously.  He  was  un- 
doubtedly a  specimen  of  the  old  school  of  divines.  He  never 
wi'ote  out  his  sermons  in  full.  As  I  have  stated  in  his  hfe, 
he  used  skeletons  entirely.  But  he  was  decidedly  opposed 
to  using  a  manuscript  in  the  pulpit,  and  always  spoke  with 


196  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  I).,  LL.  D. 

disapproval  of  the  practice.  I  have  never  known  any  one 
who  formed  and  aimed  at  a  more  elevated  standard  of  the 
excellency  of  the  Christian  ministry  than  he  did.  I  know 
also  that  he  never  for  a  moment  entertained  the  thought 
that  he,  in  his  simple  and  unpretending  methods,  was  any 
worthy  illustration  of  his  own  ideal.  The  prominent  char- 
acteristics of  his  preaching  were  simplicity,  earnestness,  di- 
rectness, and  fidelity  in  presenting  divine  truth.  He  was 
always  animated  in  his  deliver}'',  and  seldom  allowed  him- 
self less  than  an  hour  for  a  sermon.  His  systematic  divi- 
sion of  his  discourses,  into  the  several  topics  which  he 
deemed  necessary  fully  to  develop  the  meaning  of  his  text, 
led  to  a  ridiculous  caricature  of  his  style  by  heedless  and  in- 
attentive listeners  among  the  waggish  students  of  the  Uni- 
■versity  during  his  Presidency.  As  he  was  in  the  habit  of 
dividing  the  discourse  into  at  least  three  parts,  and  these 
into  subdivisions  as  was  needful,  he  always  used  for  the  sake 
of  perspicuity  such  words  as  ^'once  inore,''  or,  '^  again,'' 
and  having  exhausted  a  particular  topic  he  used  the  word 
^''finallyr  Of  coui'se  he  passed  through  the  remaining 
heads  or  di\'isions  in  a  similar  method.  The  boys,  there- 
fore, disappointed  that,  after  using  the  word  "  finally,"  he 
still  continued  to  preach  on,  wrote  in  large  letters  over  the 
pulpit  in  the  College  Chapel,  where  he  was  in  the  habit  of 
preaching,  "/  do  not  wish  to  he  tedious;  once  more,  finally y 
and  again!" 

He  was  often  a  listener  himself,  and  to  show  the  force 
of  that  habit  of  his  teaching,  of  prompting  a  student  who 
seemed  at  a  loss  for  a  word,  I  mention  an  incident  that  I 
witnessed,  occurring  on  occasion  of  an  afternoon  service  in 
the  chapel.  An  excellent  Methodist  minister  w^as  preach- 
ing, and  as  he  designed  at  a  certain  point  in  the  sermon  to 
quote  our  Saviour's  denunciation  of  the  cities  wherein  his 
mighty  works  had  been  done,  he  began  by  the  expression  of 
the  first  part,  "Woe  unto  thee;"  but  there  the  next  word 


His  Father's  Style  of  Pi.EACHiNa  197 

seemed  to  have  been  forgotten,  and  he  came  to  a  full  pause. 
The  omission  was  immediately  supplied  by  my  father,  "who 
in  his  deep  voice  uttered  the  word,  "Chorazin,"  relieved 
the  preacher,  and  he  continued  the  discourse  without  farther 
interruption.  The  effect  Avas  somewhat  startling,  but  cre- 
ated no  disturbance  or  disorder  in  the  audience  whatever. 

His  style  was  strictly  didactic,  without  flowers  or  rhetori- 
cal display,  using  only  the  pure  Anglo-Saxon,  of  which  he 
was  a  master,  and  his  illustrations  were  always  plain  and 
striking.  To  such  auditors  as  loved  exciting,  sensational 
preaching  he  w^as  not  likely  to  be  attractive ;  yet  his  preach- 
ing always  w^as  full  of  the  marrow  of  the  gospel,  and  plain, 
devout  Christian  worshippers  prized  it  as  a  precious  privi- 
lege to  sit  mider  his  ministr3\  His  custom  at  the  countiy 
church  of  "Willington  was  to  preach  two  sermons  on  the 
Sabbath  during  the  summer  season,  with  a  suitable  interval 
between  the  two  discourses.  Not  infrequently  the  two  were 
on  the  same  subject,  the  afternoon  sermon  concluding  the 
discussion.  One  remark  may  be  added:  Such  preaching 
was  eminently  fitted  to  the  instruction  and  building  up  of 
his  people,  or  any  church  which  had  his  services  as  a 
preacher.  He  was  an  Old  School  Presbyterian,  thorough 
and  unmistakable.  He,  at  a  very  early  period,  discerned 
the  signs  of  corruption  in  the  church  w-hich  grew  out  of  the 
plan  of  union  of  1801,  and  I  well  remember  how  he  was  an- 
noyed by  the  periodical  arrival  by  mail  of  a  pamphlet  called 
T]\e  Home  Missionary,  edited  by  Absalom  Peters,  and  then 
considered  the  organ  of  the  New-School  party. 

He  was  sound,  judicious,  and  uncompromising  in  his  or- 
thodoxy, and  was  one  of  the  prominent  landmarks  of  Calvin- 
istic  theolog}'  in  those  days.  If  any  reader  should  be 
curious  to  know  why  a  Presbyterian  preacher  so  wddely 
known  as  he  was  holds  no  historical  position  among  the 
men  who  were  j^rominent  in  the  great  division  of  the  church 
of  the  year  1837,  it  maj^  be  sufficient  to  state  the  fact  that  it 


198  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

■was  just  at  that  juncture  that,  by  the  providence  of  the  di- 
"vine  Being  who  rules  in  the  church  and  the  world,  he  was 
brought  into  that  state  of  bodily  and  mental  weakness 
which  ended  his  life  work  and  withdrew  him  from  all  par- 
ticipation in  public  enterprise. 

I  have  said  that  my  father's  residence  was  within  a  short 
distance  of  the  home  of  Hon.  George  McDuffie.  This  inade 
it  the  custom  and  the  pleasure  of  this  great  man  to  attend 
on  the  services  of  the  AYillington  church.  He  was  always 
present,  when  at  home,  during  the  first  sermon,  but  invari- 
ably took  his  departure  after  that.  Mr.  McDuffie  was  never 
a  member  of  any  chui'ch,  so  far  as  I  have  ever  heard.  He 
was  a  very  remarkable  man.  In  common  with  many  of  our 
most  eminent  citizens,  he  was  of  very  humble  origin.  The 
following  statement  is  in  substance,  but  somewhat  abridged, 
the  same  with  that  found  on  pages  44-48  of  a  monograph 
by  Mr.  C.  Meriwether,  of  Johns  Hopkins  University,  fur- 
nished by  him  to  the  Biu'eau  of  Education,  Department  of 
the  Interior.  It  is,  in  the  form  here  given  by  me,  simply  a 
condensed  extract  "  from  an  unpublished  eulogy  upon  Mr.  Mc- 
Duffie, by  the  late  Hon.  Armistead  Burt,  of  Abbeville,  S.  C."s 

He  received  the  elementary  course  of  education — reading, 
writing,  and  arithmetic — sufficiently  to  qualify  him  to  be  a 
merchant's  clerk  in  a  country  store,  and  he  was  emplo^'ed  in 
that  capacity  by  a  Mr.  Hayes,  whose  place  of  business  was 
in  Columbia  county,  Ga.,  some  thirty  miles  from  Augusta. 
He  soon  developed  capacity  for  a  larger  business,  and,  on 
the  recommendation  of  Mr.  Hayes,  he  obtained  a  situation 
as  clerk  in  the  house  of  Calhoun  &  Wilson,  in  Augusta. 
Mr.  Calhoim  was  a  brother  of  the  great  statesman,  John  C. 
Calhoun,  and  Mr.  "William  Calhoun  was  another  brother, 
who  was  a  planter  on  the  Savannah  river,  near  Dr.  Waddel's 
academy  at  AYillington.  The  latter  having  business  fre- 
quently in  Augusta,  saw  Mr.  McDuffie  in  the  family  of  his 
brother  James,  and  being  "  prepossessed  by  his  appearance, 


Hon.  Geokge  McDuffie.  199 

and  favorably  impressed  by  the  accounts  given  of  liim  by 
Hi-.  James  CaUioiin,  Mr.  William  Calhoun  took  bun,  ni 
1810,  to  bis  bome,  wben  be  entered  tbe  Academy,  in  tbe 
twentietb  year  of  bis  age.     He  remained  a  student  of  Dr. 
■Waddel's  Academy  until  December,  1811,  and  was  admitted 
into  tbe  Junior  Class  of  tbe  Soutb  Carobna  College,  tben 
imder  tbe  presidency  of  tbe  eminent  Dr.  Maxcy.     He  was 
graduated  in  1813,  "not  only  witb  tbe  first  bonors  of  bis 
class,  but  witb  a  reputation  tbat  miglit  bave  satisbed  tbe 
aspirations  of  genius  and  tbe  bopes  of  toil."     He  rose  ra- 
pidly at  tbe  bar,  and  was  elected  to  Congress  early  in  bis 
career,  wbere  be  acbieved  for  bimsell  in  a  very  sbort  time  a 
reputation  as  a  great  orator  and  nationax  statesman.     His 
oratory  was  impressive,  and,  wben  glowing  witb  bis  tbeme, 
be  was  vebement.     In  bis  argumentation  be  was  profound 
and  logical;  in  debate,  and  before  a  popular  audience  dur- 
ing an^'exciting  canvass  upon  some  of  tbe  "burning  ques- 
tio'lia"  and  issues  of  tbe  day,  sucb  as  tbe  tariff  and  tbe  doc- 
trme  of  nullification,  be  was  often  terribly  severe  in  bis  de- 
nunciations wben  tborougbly  aroused.     He  was  regarded  zs 
tbe  peer  of  Wilbam  C.  Preston  and  Hugb  S.  Legare,  and  it 
bas  been  said  tbat "  tbe  annals  of  bistory,  ancient  or  modern, 
bave  no  record  of  tbree  men  so  endowed  witb  tbe  divine 
gift  of  eloquence  131  any  age  or  country  at  tbe  same  time 
and  in  tbe  same  locaHty  on  tbe  stage  of  life." 

Tbe  great  tbeme  wbicb  absorbed  tbe  attention  of  tbe 
whole  country,  iNortb  and  Soutb,  was  tbe  tariff,  and  in  the 
discussion  of  it  Mr.  McDuffie  set  himself  wdtb  all  his  powers 
against  it.  He  was  one  of  tbe  champions  of  State  rights, 
of  tbe  Calhoun  school,  and  when  the  State  passed  tbe  ordi- 
nance of  nullification,  he  was  one  of  tbe  leaders  in  tbat  great 
pobtical  conflict.  Having  been  elected  Governor  of  Soutb 
Carolina,  he  tm-ned  his  attention  to  tbe  study  of  military 
science,  w^as  made  major-general,  and  was  instrumental 
in  diffusug  a  great  deal  of  knowledge,  and  inspiring  a  great 


200  John  N.  Waddel,  B.  D.,  LL.  D. 

degree  of  spirit  into  the  general  mass  of  tlie  people.  Mr. 
McDuffie  was  engaged  in  three  duels  with  Col.  Gumming, 
of  Augusta,  Ga.,  the  grounds  of  which  I  never  knew.  In 
one  of  these  encounters,  he  received  his  adversary's  ball  in 
his  hi]),  which  was  never  extracted.  He  lost  his  health  en- 
tirely, and  became  almost  helpless.  I  have  been  told  by 
Dr.  Longstreet,  the  eminent  judge,  who  j)resided  over  the 
University  of  Mississippi  with  eminent  success,  and  after- 
w^ards  over  the  South  Carolina  College,  and  who  had  been  a 
fellow-student  with  Mr.  McDuffie  at  Wilhngton,  that  he  paid 
Mr.  McDuffie  a  visit  at  his  residence.  Cherry  Hill,  in  his 
last  feeble  days,  and  left  him  w^th  the  hope  that  he  was  a 
Christian.  Mr.  McDuffie  was  married  to  Miss  Singleton, 
of  the  High  Hills  of  Santee,  who  died  shortly  after  mar- 
riage, leaving  a  daughter,  who  was  aftei'wards  married  to 
Gen.  Wade  Hampton,  and  died.  This  is,  as  nearly  as  I  can 
secure  the  facts,  a  brief  sketch  of  the  great  orator's  life. 
Others  of  the  regular  attendants  upon  my  father's  preaching 
ivere  two  men  of  wealth,  as  the  term  wealth  was  at  that  time 
api^lied,  i.  e.,  they  w^re  owners  of  large  cotton  plantations 
and  were  large  slave-holders.  These  were  Wm.  Calhoun, 
Esq.,  and  Gen.  William  A.  Bull.  Of  the  first  gentleman  I 
have  a  distinct  recollection  in  my  boyhood  as  being  some- 
what advanced  in  life,  and  that  he  lived  to  be  quite  an  old 
man.  He  was  the  oldest  brother  of  John  C.  Calhoun,  and 
the  brother  of  my  father's  first  wife.  It  has  always  been  a 
source  of  gratification  to  us  all,  that  there  existed  during 
my  father's  life  a  most  cordial  and  uninterrupted  social  in- 
tercourse and  friendshij)  between  the  Calhoun  family  and 
our  family.  This  was  the  case  also  with  his  and  their  de- 
scendants as  long  as  they  continued  to  reside  near  each 
other.  The  gentleman  just  referred  to,  Mr.  Wm.  Calhoun, 
was  by  no  means  a  professing  Christian,  and  made  no  pre- 
tensions  of  that  kind.  Yet  he  was  a  friend  of  my  father, 
<and  attended  his  preaching,  was  absorbed  in  his  farm  or 
planting  interests,  made  money,  raised  a  large  family,  and 


Gen.  William  A.  Bull.  201 

died  in  old  age.  The  other  gentleman,  Gen.  Bull,  was  an 
elderly  gentleman,  never  married,  grew  rich  by  cotton-plant- 
ing, "svas  a  member  of  the  South  Carolina  Legislature,  and 
a  very  prominent  politician,  an  old  j)npil  of  the  WiUington 
Academy,  a  friend  and  admirer  of  my  father,  and  like  Mr. 
Calhoun  and  Mr.  McDuffie,  was  not  a  member  of  the  church, 
but  a  regular  attendant  on  his  preaching.  The  story  of  the 
closing  of  his  life  is  full  of  sadness  in  the  review.  Without 
descending  to  particulars,  it  is  sufficient  to  record  that  he 
was  murdered  by  some  of  his  negroes. 

He  was  the  son  of  a  most  devoted  Christian  mother,  who 
was  an  intimate  friend  of  my  parents,  and  an  earnest  mem- 
ber of  the  WilUngton  church.  His  only  brother,  who  sur- 
vived him,  was  an  elder  of  that  church,  as  far  back  as  my 
recollection  carries  me,  and  though  eccentric,  w'as  devotedly 
pious.  These  have  all  passed  away,  and  none  sur^ive  now 
to  bear  their  name  in  the  Willington  settlement.  The  name 
of  Calhoun  still  lingers  on  the  list  of  citizens  in  other  and 
distant  regions  of  our  country,  but  neither  at  Willington  nor 
elsewhere,  can  there  bo  found  one  w^ho  bears  the  name  and 
descent  of  McDuffie  or  of  Bull. 

The  congregation  was  made  up  of  a  highly  respectable 
and  intelligent  class,  w^ho,  with  their  children  and  grand- 
children, were  the  genuine  descendants  of  the  original 
Huguenots  who  escaped  from  France  in  1763,  and  settled 
in  Abbeville  district  in  1764,  and  in  the  congregation  was  a 
large  proportion  of  Scotch-Irish  people,  who  came  there, 
many  of  them,  from  Charleston.  A  more  substantial  popu- 
lation, and  one  more  thoroughly  imbued  with  the  true  prin- 
ciples of  civil  and  religious  freedom,  and  more  devoted 
fnends  of  Christian  education,  could  not  be  readily  met 
with  in  the  State.  It  was  in  the  midst  of  such  a  community 
that  my  father  spent  many  of  his  years  most  fruitful  of 
beneficial  results  as  a  teacher  and  preacher,  and  here  his 
own  children,  and  those  of  many  of  his  neighbors,  were 
moulded  and  trained  for  this  life  and  for  eternitv. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

Some  Ciecumstances  Connected  with  my  First  Courtship  and 

Marriage. 

THE  story  of  my  life  has  now  reached  that  point  which,  in 
most  young  men,  is  to  be  regarded  as  of  rather  critical 
interest.  I  mean  the  period  when  the  first  emotions  of  the 
heart  are  awakened  toward  the  gentler  sex.  There  were 
ver}^  few  young  ladies  in  the  neighborhood  at  the  time  of 
my  home-life  there,  from  1830  to  1832.  But  there  were 
four  with  whom  I  w-as  on  social  terms,  and  who  were  all 
entitled  to  high  respect  and  esteem  for  their  excellent  quali- 
ties. Miss  Mary  Eogers  and  Miss  Mar)''  E.  Mor ague  were  both 
descended  directly  from  the  Huofuenots,  while  Miss  Catherine 
Noble  and  Miss  Martha  A.  Robertson  were  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent.  "With  all  these  I  was  on  terms  of  intimate  friend- 
ship, and  admired  in  them  what  constituted  the  peculiar 
attraction  of  each.  With  regard  to  Miss  Robertson,  the  last 
mentioned  of  the  group,  she  was  a  school-girl  of  fifteen 
years  of  age  when  I  formed  her  acquaintance.  She  was 
the  3'oungest  child  of  Major  George  Robertson,  who,  like 
many  other  gentlemen  of  the  lower  country  and  residents  of 
Charleston,  had  retired  from  the  business  of  the  cit}'  and 
engaged  in  the  occupation  of  planting,  purchasing  a  fine 
body  of  bottom-land  on  the  Sayannah  riyer,  within  a  few 
miles  of  Willington.  He  was,  according  to  tradition,  the 
beau  ideal  of  a  i^erfect  gentleman  of  the  old  school,  a  class 
of  men  who  were  more  frequently  found  among  Charles- 
tonians  than  among  those  of  any  other  region  of  country  or 
city.  I  must  be  pardoned  for  the  assertion  that  I  haye 
never  known  the  old-time  Charleston  gentleman   surpassed 

202 


Early  Couetship.  203 

in  all  the  elements  of  chivalric  and  elevated  honor.  Major 
Eobertson  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  ornaments  of  the  Wil- 
lington  community  during  his  life,  and  though  he  never 
made  a  pubUc  profession  of  rehgion,  or  connected  himself 
with  the  church,  yet  he  was  a  strong  supporter  and  a  regu- 
lar attendant  upon  my  father's  preaching,  with  his  family, 
and  was  highly  exemplary  in  his  life  and  character.  He 
died  of  bilious  fever  in  1817.  On  his  dying-bed  my  father 
visited  him,  and  hopes  were  entertained  that  he  died  in 
peace. 

But  to  the  young  lady  herself  I  return,  and  have  only  to 
say,  without  needless  record  of  matters  personal  and  pri- 
vate, that  altogether,  to  my  view  she  was  possessed  of  all 
those  nameless  attractions,  both  of  mind  and  person,  that 
were  well  calculated  to  win  my  admiration  and  esteem,  and 
which  grew  to  absorbing  affection  for  her.  She  was  bright, 
but  very  timid  and  shrinking.  She  was  well  educated,  her 
instructor  being  a  gentleman  of  high  reputation  as  a  scholar 
and  teacher,  Eev.  Wm.  B.  Johnson,  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
who  taught  in  Edgefield  a  school  for  young  ladies.  So  as 
time  passed  on  I  foimd  that  my  feelings  toward  her  were 
becoming  more  earnest  than  I  had  ever  before  experienced, 
and  I  resolved  to  make  them  known  to  her  at  some  suitable 
opportunity.  It  is  very  true  that  I  was  quite  young  to  be 
thinking  about  a  wife,  but  neveiiheless  I  was  very  earnest 
in  the  matter.  It  may  be  remarked  as  some  palliation  of 
my  youthful  indiscretion  that  I  had  been  set  to  work  in  the 
serious  business  of  hfe  as  truly  as  though  I  had  attained  to 
the  legal  age  of  citizenship,  and  I  suppose  my  views  of  other 
matters  kept  pace  with  my  position  in  the  world.  "The 
course  "  of  my  love,  just  as  the  poet  testifies  of  other  similar 
matters,  did  not  "run  smooth." 

It  is  entirely  unnecessary  that  I  should  dwell  minutely 
upon  the  details  connected  with  the  prosecution  of  my  suit, 
and  the  happy  consummation.     In  the  view  of  many  who 


204  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

miglit  read  sucli  statements,  sucli  matters  are  regarded  as 
partaking  too  much  of  the  sacred  in  their  nature  to  l3e 
dwelt  upon  in  such  a  record  as  this.  That  there  were  diffi- 
culties to  be  overcome  in  the  progress  of  this  aifair  may  be 
admitted,  but  their  record  is  not  called  for  at  this  period, 
when  most  of  those  who  were  connected  with  them  have 
passed  away,  and  the  survivors  have  that  knowledge  of 
them  that  needs  no  such  record.  I,  in  due  time,  enjo^^ed  a 
favorable  opportunity  of  communicating  to  Miss  Kobertson 
my  proposal,  which  afterwards  was  accepted  udth  a  condi- 
tion annexed,  viz.,  that  the  full  consummation  of  our  en- 
gagement should  be  delayed  for  four  years.  Soon  after  her 
mother  and  herself  paid  a  visit  to  her  eldest  sister,  who  had 
been  married  and  settled  in  Green  County,  Ala.,  some  time 
l^re^ious  to  this  event.  They  had  been  absent  some  months, 
when  it  became  a  matter  of  importance  for  me  to  take  a  trip 
westward,  and  I  conceived  the  idea  of  making  a  \'isit  to  her, 
and  endeavoring  to  prevail  upon  her  to  shorten  the  period  of 
our  engagement.  This  I  was  very  well  assured  would  be  a 
task  not  of  easy  accomplishment,  yet  I  entered  upon  it  with 
a  determination  to  use  all  lawful  arguments  to  ensure  suc- 
cess. I  reached  my  destination  after  a  rather  tedious  and 
fatiguing  travel  of  four  hundred  miles,  by  private  convey- 
ance, early  in  November.  I  was  not  by  any  means  hojoe- 
less  of  success  in  my  enterprise,  as  the  families  "on  both 
sides  of  the  house"  were  known  to  approve  our  proposed 
union,  and  my  father  and  all  my  friends  were  prepared  to 
receive  her  with  open  arms  of  welcome.  After  presenting 
eveiy  available  argument  it  pleased  a  kind  Providence  to 
influence  her  to  consent  to  my  proposition,  and  to  give  me 
success  in  the  great  object  of  my  mission.  On  the  27th  day 
of  November,  1832,  at  the  residence  of  R.  G.  Quarles  (her 
brother-in-law  and  her  guardian),  we  were  united  in  mar- 
riage, the  ceremony  being  performed  by  Rev.  John  H. 
Gray  (the  husband  of  her  other  sister),  she  being  in  the 


M.1KRIAGE.  205 

seyenteenth  year  of  her  age  and  I  in  my  twenty-first.  AVe 
left  soon  after  this  and  returned  to  South  Carohna,  amv- 
mg  at  WilHngton,  which  was  destined  to  be  our  home  on 
or  neai'  the  25th  December,  1832. 


CHAPTER   YIII. 

Incidents  Public  'and  Pkivate  Ditking-  1832-'33. — Sketch  of  J.  C. 
Calhoun. — Nullification. 

ON  my  return,  I  resumed  work  in  the  school  in  connection 
with  my  older  brother,  James  P.  AVaddel,  who  for  a 
term  of  years  having  been  rector  of  the  Richmond  Academy, 
in  Augusta,  Ga.,  had  resigned  that  position  and  removed  to 
Willington.  The  school  was  conducted  under  our  joint  con- 
trol, and  my  home  was  happily  and  comfortably  fixed  in  my 
father's  house  for  the  time  being.  One  of  the  fii'st  things 
that  met  my  view  on  reaching  home  from  Alabama  was  the 
existence  and  excitement  of  a  protracted  meeting  then  in 
progress  in  the  church  and  congregation,  under  the  conduct 
of  the  eminent  revivalist.  Rev.  Dr.  Daniel  Baker.  On  this 
occasion  he  did  not  fail  to  approach  me  personally  on  the 
subject  of  my  soul's  salvation.  I  listened  to  him  quietly 
without  being  moved  or  seriously  impressed,  just  as  had 
been  the  case  in  my  experience  on  all  similar  previous  oc- 
casions. In  reviewing  these  incidents  in  my  history,  and  in 
recalling  the  habit  of  jDOstponing  the  consideration  of  per- 
sonal rehgion  which  at  that  time  characterized  me,  I  know 
very  well  that  it  was  not  the  result  of  a  want  of  the  convic- 
tion of  my  judgment  as  to  the  vast  importance  of  the  sub- 
ject. I  had  not  then,  nor  ever  in  my  life,  the  slightest  ten- 
dency to  indulge  in  skeptical  infidelity ;  but  the  habit  grew 
out  of  my  quiet  preference  for  the  passing  enjo^Tnents  of 
the  world  and  a  false  (though  common)  persuasion  that  to 
become  a  Christian  would  interfere  with  those  enjoyments. 
I  was  "  blind  and  in  the  dark  " ;  but  the  long-suffering  pa- 
tience and  forbearing  love  of  God  still  tolerated  me,  and  in 

206 


Prospecting  Tour  to  Florida.  207 

His  own  good  time  I  became  a  subject  of  His  converting 
grace.  This,  however,  was  brought  about  under  i^ecuhar 
circumstances,  the  narrative  of  which  will  be  jDOstponed  to 
a  futui'e  period 

The  patronage  of  the  AYillington  Academy  not  presenting 
an  inciting  prospect  of  furnishing  an  income  for  the  support 
of  myself  and  my  brother,  it  occurred  to  me  that,  as  he  had 
a  family  to  provide  for,  I  would  consult  his  interest  and  my 
own  by  withdrawing  from  the  school  and  seeking  another 
field  of  labor.     Accordingly,  in  the  month  of  March,  in  com- 
pany TN-ith  my  brother-in-law,  Eev.  John  H.  Gray,  who  (on 
account  of  some  apprehensions  of  pulmonary  disease)  had 
been  induced  to  visit  Florida,  I  resolved  to  go  to  that  coun- 
try and  investigate  the  prospect  that  might  be  offered  for 
the  settlement  of  a  teacher.     AYe  traveled  on  horseback, 
were  absent  five  or  six  weeks,  during  which  we  endured 
divers  hardships,   met  with  various  "perils  by  flood  and 
field,"  saw  a  good  deal  of  poor  land,  spent  some  monej',  and, 
having  discovered  no  inviting  place  for  future  operations, 
we  retraced  our  steps,  satisfied  (or  rather  disgusted)  with 
what  we  had  seen  of  Florida.     It  must  be  remarked  that 
this  tour  of  inspection  occurred  just  fifty-eight  years  ago, 
long  before  the  land  of  flowers  and  oranges  had  reached 
that  degree  of  attractiveness  since  attained,  making  it  the 
winter  resort  of  many  thousands  of  the  citizens  of  more 
northern  latitudes  and  inducing  many  to  estabhsh  theis 
permanent  and  delightful  homes  for  hfe.     AVe  claim  to  be 
pardoned  for  the  unlovely  sketch  above  drawn  upon  the 
ground  that  our  verdict  was  prematui'e. 

I  remained  at  AYillington  a  few  weeks,  and  about  the  first 
of  May  I  removed  to  Athens,  Ga.,  and  was  made  Principal 
of  the  Grammar  School,  now  dissociated  from  the  Univer- 
sity, and  placed  upon  a  footing  of  independence,  finding 
myself  a  teacher  in  the  very  building  (removed  from  the 
campus,  in  which  I  had  been  a  pupil  in  my  boyhood.     My 


208  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

residence  tliere  was  of  onl}'  six  months'  duration.  The 
prospect  of  success  was  not  encouraging  and  the  income 
seemed  inadequate  to  meet  expenses.  Moreover,  the  Athens 
of  that  day  wore  an  entirely  different  aspect  to  me  fi'om 
that  of  four  years  previous ;  so  that  my  time  there  was  irksome, 
and  after  this  brief  experiment  I  abandoned  the  place  and 
returned  to  "Willington.  AVith  the  exception  of  about  one 
year's  assistance  rendered  to  my  brother  in  his  school  in 
1834,  I  taught  no  more  for  a  number  of  years. 

Having  made  a  purchase  of  a  very  fine  tract  of  land  a. 
few  miles  east  of  AVillington,  and  having  built  a  neat  cottage 
upon  it,  I  formed  the  determination  to  devote  my  time  and 
attention  for  my  remaining  days  to  the  business  of  farming. 
Accordingly,  in  the  early  spring  of  1835,  taking  my  wife 
and  infant  bo}',  with  m}^  mother-in-law,  Mrs.  Collier  (who 
had  now  decided,  on  earnest  sohcitations  from  us,  to  live 
with  us),  I  entered  for  the  first  time  and  took  possession  of 
a  home  of  my  own,  to  which  we  gave  the  name  Elmwood. 

It  will  doubtless  add  to  the  interest  of  this  narrative,  that 
I  digress  somewhat  in  order  to  record  some  account  of  a 
state  of  things  in  public  affairs  w^hich  was  of  absorbing  and 
overwhelming  importance  to  the  people  of  the  whole  coun- 
iry,  and  especially  to  South  Carolina.  The  attention  of  the 
people  was  deeply  attracted  to  the  subject  in  1828,  during^ 
my  college  course,  while  residing  in  the  State  of  Georgia, 
and  the  resulting  excitement  grew  in  its  intensity  until  1833. 
I  allude  to  the  political  war  in  relation  to  the  Tariff  Act, 
which  war  reached  its  consummation  in  the  Ordinance  of 
Nulhfication,  and  was  settled  by  the  compromise  of  1835. 
An  act  had  been  passed  by  Congress  in  1816  laying  a  tariff 
on  imports ;  but  as  it  was  designed  more  for  revenue  than 
for  protection,  it  created  little,  if  any,  opposition.  In  1828, 
the  dissension  arose  on  account  of  the  passage,  by  a  majority 
in  Congress,  of  an  offensive  tariff  bill,  which,  it  was  con- 
tended by  the  Southern  statesmen,  operated  injuriously  to 


Public  Excitement  Over  the  Tariff.  209 

the  interests  of  the  South.  I  remember  very  well  the  effect 
produced  (not  only  in  South  Carolina,  but  in  Georgia  as 
^vell),  by  the  proceeding's  of  Congress  in  1828.  The  taril'f 
on  the  imported  goods  from  England  was  fixed  at  an  amount 
so  high  that  English  cott(ni  fabrics  particularly  were  virtu- 
ally almost  excluded.  The  object  of  this  legislation  was  to 
force  our  peoi^le  to  buy  the  goods  of  this  kind  from  Northern 
manufacturers.  But  the  goods  of  English  manufacturers 
were  of  a  superior  quality,  and  but  for  this  tariff,  could  bo 
sold  to  consumers  at  a  lower  price  than  those  of  this  coun- 
try. There  were  very  few,  if  any,  cotton  factories  in  the 
South,  and  hence  the  Southern  people  must  needs  trade 
with  the  North,  or  bu}'  the  English  goods  at  ruinous  prices. 
After  a  long  series  of  legislative  acts  of  this  kind,  by  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States,  the  patience  of  the  Southern 
people  was  well-nigh  exhausted,  as  these  aggTessive  mea- 
sures had  been  in  progress  for  many  years,  to  the  detriment 
of  the  agricultural  interests  of  the  people  cf  the  South. 
Every  consideration  connected  with  these  interests  made  it 
plain  that  we  should  trade  with  the  English,  as  we  raised 
the  cotton  needed  by  them,  and  they  could  manufactiu'e 
better  fabrics,  and  sell  them  at  reduced  prices.  This  the 
Congressional  mrjority,  in  the  interest  of  the  Northern 
manufacturers,  determined  if  possible  to  prevent;  hence 
the  obnoxious  legislation  to  which  reference  is  made.  The 
first  demonstrntioa  of  popular  feeling  was  the  adox^tion  of 
resolutions  in  many  parts  of  the  South,  in  self-defence,  to 
use  no  goods  of  Northern  manufacture,  but  to  use  clothing- 
spun  and  woven  in  the  old  fashioned  way,  by  hand  or  the 
spinning  wheel,  and  loom.  The  Trustees,  Faculty,  and  stu- 
dents, and  many  of  the  visitors  at  the  University  Commence- 
ment of  that  year,  doffed  their  broad-cloth,  and  presented 
themselves  in  the  University  Chapel  clad  in  homespun  suits 
of  domestic  manufacture,  and  great  enthusiasm  prevailed. 
The  amount  of  which  the  Southern  j^eople  felt  themselves 


210  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

robbed  ^vas  comparatively  trivial,  and  the  statesmen  of  tlie 
South  laid  little  stress  upon  that.  But  the  principle  on 
"vs'hich  this  unjust  legislation  was  based  was  the  point 
against  which  they  contended,  as  tending  directly  to  the 
ultimate  subversion  of  our  liberties.  That  principle  was 
that  one  section  of  the  country  should  be  taxed  for  the  pro- 
tection of  the  products  of  another,  while  no  correspondent 
benefit,  but  an  injuiy,  should  result  to  the  interests  of  the 
section  taxed.  The  champions  of  the  State  of  South  Caro- 
lina, were  Messrs.  Calhoun  and  Hayne  in  the  Senate, 
with  George  McDuffie,  James  Hamilton,  and  others  in  the 
House  of  Representatives.  These  gentlemen  held  that 
this  legislation  was  unconstitutional,  inasmuch  as  it  was 
destructive  of  State  rights.  To  levy  a  proper  tax  on  all 
the  people  for  revenue  purposes  was  right  and  unob- 
jectionable. But  a  tax  which  arbitrarily  discriminated  be- 
tween clifferenh  sections  of  the  Union  would  inevitably  over- 
ride the  liberties  of  the  people,  destroy  the  guarantees  of 
the  Constitution,  and  lead  to  the  dissolution  of  the  Union. 
The  sentiment  almost  universally  adoj)ted  by  the  people, 
was :   "Millions  for  defence  ;  not  a  cent  for  tribute  !" 

As  encroachment  after  encroachment  continued  to  occur, 
a  convention  of  the  people  of  South  Carolina  waa  called,  and 
the  Ordinance  of  Nullification  was  j)assed.  The  meaning  of 
this  ordinance  was,  that  where  such  legislation  was  passed 
by  Congress  as  was  violative  of  the  rights  of  the  States  (of 
•which  violation  the  State  was  clothed  with  the  power  to 
decide),  the  rightful  remedy  could  be  found  in  the  nullifica- 
tion of  the  obnoxious  law  within  the  limits  of  the  State.  It 
was  also  held  to  be  a  peaceful  remedy,  and  by  no  means  im- 
plied the  dissolution  of  the  Union. 

The  celebrated  Andrew  Jackson  was  then  President  oi 
the  United  States,  and  was  at  the  acme  of  his  popularity; 
and  bearing  no  good  will  to  Mr.  Calhoun,  he  identified  him- 
self with  the  Union  party,  and  succeeded  in  having  a  bill 


Nullification  Times.  211 

passed  known  as  "  the  Force  Bill."  This  bill  i^laced  at  his 
control  all  the  naval  and  military  forces  of  the  government, 
with  a  ^iew  of  coercing  the  people  of  South  Carolina ;  but 
the  State  did  not  pause  to  calculate  the  immense  odds  ar- 
rayed against  lier,  and  although  no  other  State  joined  her 
in  the  opposition,  she  immediately  proceeded  to  place  her- 
self on  a  war  footing. 

I  cannot  forget,  however,  that  some  of  her  best  citizens, 
a  party  not  sufficiently  numerous  to  succeed,  opposed  the 
Kullification  movement  very  decidedly.  Among  them  was 
James  L.  Pettigru,  of  Charleston,  than  whom  the  State 
claimed  no  nobler  son.  They  distinguished  themselves  by 
the  name  of  "  Union  men ;  "  they  were  reproached  by  the 
Nulhfiers  with  the  title  of  "  Submissionists."  The  logical  se- 
quence of  Nullification,  according  to  its  advocates,  was  not 
secession,  but  the  preservation  of  the  Union  upon  constitu- 
tional principles.  Many  of  the  Union  men  believing  that 
the  doctrine  was  a  mistake  on  the  part  of  the  Nullifiers,  and 
convinced  that  a  conflict  of  arms  with  the  general  govern- 
ment was  inevitable,  in  which  event  South  Carolina  would 
be  crushed,  removed  from  the  State. 

In  the  meantime  the  whole  State  was  converted  into  a 
military  encampment,  and  preparation  was  made  to  bring 
every  able-bodied  man  in  the  State  into  the  public  service. 
There  was  no  need  of  conscription,  no  draft,  but  all  who 
went  into  the  ranks  were  volunteers.  Notes  of  preparation 
sounded  from  the  mountains  to  the  sea  board,  and  the  en- 
thusiasm was  deep  and  widespread.  Squads  of  men  were 
organized  everywhere,  who  were  pledged,  on  a  minute's 
warning  from  their  commander,  to  repair  to  any  designated 
spot  equipped  with  arms,  rations,  clothing,  and  a  good 
horse !  The  ultimate  rendevouz  for  the  whole  military  force 
thus  raised  throughout  the  State  was  Charleston,  and  there 
the  army  was  to  be  concentrated  to  meet  the  forces  of  the 
tjiiited  States  Government.     Such  was  the  actual  condition 


212  John  N.  AYaddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

of  things  diiriug  some  months  preceding  March  -ith,  'which 
was  supposed  to  be  the  critical  period  when  the  question 
of  collision  would  be  definitely  decided.  During  these  ex- 
citing scenes  it  may  be  readily  supposed  I  was  not  inactive 
and  unmoved,  but  I  was  in  full  sympathy  with  the  South. 
I  was  not  only  a  Nullilier,  but  I  belonged  to  a  squad  of 
"minute  men."  But  as  the  time  rolled  on  Congress  was 
evidently  becoming  more  disposed  to  settle  the  difficulty 
without  actual  collision,  and  a  party  imbued  with  the  spirit 
of  moderation  was  assiduously  at  work  to  modify  the  pre- 
vious legislation,  so  as  to  conciliate  all  parties  and  avert  the 
threatening  storm.  The  leader  of  this  party  in  Congress 
was  the  celebrated  Henry  Clay,  of  Kentucky,  and  under  his 
wise  conduct  the  Compromise  Act  was  successfully  perfected 
and  passed,  which  brought  into  sufficient  harmony  the  con- 
flicting views  of  all,  so  that  the  apparently  "imminent 
deadly  breach  "  was  closed.  This  act  of  Congress  so  modi- 
fied the  obnoxious  tariff  bill  as  to  subject  it  to  a  process  of 
gradual  reduction  through  a  series  of  years,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  which  time  it  should  j)roduce  an  adequate  revenue 
with  a  more  moderate  system  of  protection.  To  be  sure 
this  was  not  the  solution  that  was  entirely  satisfactory  to 
the  South  Carolinians,  still  it  was  a  concession  to  their  de- 
mands. Although  attempts  have  been  made  to  cast  re- 
proach and  contempt  upon  them  and  upon  their  leaders, 
still  it  was  patent  upon  the  surface  of  this  entire  transac- 
tion to  any  unprejudiced  mind  that,  to  a  very  considerable 
extent,  the  compromise  was  the  result  of  the  unfaltering  at- 
titude of  South  Carolina  in  opposition  to  the  unconstitu- 
tional encroachments  upon  the  liberties  and  rights  of  the 
States.  The  passage  of  this  bill  was  followed  by  the  cessa- 
tion of  all  military  preparation,  and  the  country  soon  sub- 
sided into  its  accustomed  calm.  Of  course,  then,  my  pledge 
as  a  "  minute  man,"  to  be  "  ready  at  a  moment's  warning," 
being  no  longer  binding,  I  readily  obtained  leave  of  absence 


Hon.  Johx  C.  Calhoun.  213 

on  a  prospecting  tour  to  Florida,  which  is  ah-eadv  recorded 
on  a  preceding  page  of  this  Memoir. 

As  I  have  mentioned  Mr.  Calhoun  in  this  connection,  I 
venture  to  give  here  a  sketch  of  some  of  his  traits,  more 
characteristic  of  his  jn-ivate  life.  He  was  always  a  most 
welcome  visitor  of  my  father  during  his  life  at  AYinington. 
Mr.  Calhoun  had  at  one  time  a  plantation  on  the  Savannah 
river  in  that  part  of  the  country,  but  had  been  for  many 
years  a  resident  of  Pendleton  District,  at  his  seat,  Fort 
Hill,  previous  to  the  time  of  which  I  write.  His  brother, 
Mr.  ^'ilham  Calhoun,  being  a  neighbor  of  my  father,  this 
also  made  him  an  occasional  visitor  in  that  part  of  the  coun- 
irj,  with  many  of  whose  citizens  he  had  been  acquainted  as 
his  friends  and  neighbors.  ^Yith  respect  to  the  pubhc  his- 
tory and  grand  career  of  Mr.  Calhoun,  I  shall  trouble  the 
reader  with  no  statements  of  mine,  as  the  world  knows  it 
all  from  more  adequate  sources.  I  only  wish  to  write  of 
him  from  personal  knowledge  and  recollection. 

His  person  was  tall,  and  he  was  erect  and  active,  yet  dig- 
nified and  graceful  in  his  movements.  His  features  were 
quite  regular,  his  forehead  neither  high  nor  broad,  yet  suffi- 
ciently so  to  stamp  it  as  "the  dome  of  thought."  But  the 
eye  that  sparkled  beneath  his  brow  was  so  piercingly  bright 
and  black  as  to  command  the  attention  and  awake  the  ad- 
miration of  all  in  his  presence.  His  voice  was  clear  and 
distinct,  and  so  modulated  as  to  express  the  exact  meaning 
of  his  words,  and  these  flowed  forth  in  a  constant  stream, 
apparently  without  premeditation,  and  exactly  adapted  to 
the  rapidity  of  his  thought.  His  manner  and  address  were 
pleasing  and  affable.  The  most  unpretentious  and  unas- 
suming man  felt  that  he  was  welcome  to  his  presence,  and 
was  at  once  at  perfect  ease  in  his  society.  I  have  heard  it 
remarked  that  in  association  with  him  one  would  almost 
forget  that  he  was  the  great  man  that  he  really  was.  There 
was,  however,  nothing  in  his  manner  that  was  designed  or 


214  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D  ,  LL.  D. 

that  tended  to  produce  the  impression  that  he  was  the  supe- 
rior of  these  with  whom  he  conversed.  I  myself,  from  my 
own  experience,  felt,  and  have  made  the  remark,  that  it  was 
impossible  to  be  in  his  com2)any  and  enjoy  his  conversation 
for  the  space  of  half  hour  without  learning  something-  that 
would  be  of  practical  benefit  and  usefulness. 

As  an  illustration  of  his  affability  and  the  facility  with 
which  he  could  adapt  himself  to  any  circle,  and  interest 
himself  in  common  life,  I  mention  an  incident  within  my 
personal  knowledge.  I  had  been  on  a  visit  with  my  family 
to  the  Madison  Springs,  once  a  much  frequented  watering- 
place  in  Georgia,  just  above  Athens.  On  a  certain  evening, 
on  the  arrival  of  the  mail-coach  from  that  place,  Mr.  Cal- 
houn proved  to  be  a  passenger.  A  large  number  of  persons 
were  at  the  hotel  as  guests,  and  when  it  was  known  that  the 
great  Senator  was  also  a  guest  much  interest  was  excited  as 
a  matter  of  coiirse.  Accordingly,  after  tea  the  guests  re- 
paired to  the  large  assembly-room,  to  see  and  hear  him 
whom  all  delighted  to  honor.  The  late  Hon.  Kobert  A. 
Toombs,  of  Georgia,  acted  as  the  leader  in  drawing  Mr. 
Calhoun  into  conversation,  for  the  enjoyment,  benefit  and 
great  dehght  of  the  company.  I  was  an  auditor,  and  was 
content  to  listen  in  silence.  But  after  some  time  spent  in 
this  agreeable  way  Mr.  Calhoun,  being  acquainted  with  me, 
as  he  had  met  me  at  my  father's  house  at  Willington,  rose 
from  his  seat,  and,  coming  over  to  me,  asked  me  to  walk 
with  him  on  the  spacious  veranda.  There,  as  we  prome- 
naded back  and  forth,  he  drew  me  into  a  conversation,  not 
about  i^ublic  affairs  or  the  political  questions  of  the  day, 
but  about  Willington  and  the  old  citizens  whom  he  had  long 
years  previously  known  as  his  neighbors  and  friends.  He 
seemed  as  deeply  interested,  and  I  doubt  not  was  really  so,  in 
this  simj)le  and  natural  conference,  as  he  would  have  been 
in  almost  any  other  subject.  He  referred  to  those  people 
by  their  names,  especially  to  the  Huguenots  and  their  de- 


Two  Great  Men  Co^^PAREr».  215 

scendants,  in  most  familiar  and  friend'r  recollection  of  their 
position  and  circumstances,  and  ^vitl^  all  the  fresliness  and. 
interest  of  one  whose  residence  there  "was  of  recent  date.  Ifc 
was  this  happy  capacity  of  adaptation  of  himself  to  all  cir- 
cumstances around  him,  which  he  possessed,  and  not  the 
insincere  cunning  of  the  politician,  which  accounts  for  the 
fact  that,  in  the  South  at  least,  John  C.  Calhoun  was  so 
beloved  and  admired.  I  have  often,  in  my  own  mind,  insti- 
tuted a  comparison  between  Mr.  Calhoun  and  Mr.  McDuffie. 
They  were  devoted  friends,  and  united  by  l)onds  of  not  only 
private  affections,  but  by  the  fact  that  they  were  earnest  and 
zealous  members  of  the  same  great  political  school,  and  3'et 
rarely  have  two  men  been  found,  as  distinguished  as  they 
were,  presenting  so  great  a  diversity  of  traits  in  most  re- 
spects. Both  were  truly  great,  eai;h  in  his  own  way,  but 
with  striking  contrasts. 

Mr.  McDuffie  was  in  his  person  by  no  means  imposing. 
"With  a  figure  not  erect,  but  rather  inclined  to  stoop,  fea- 
tures not  very  regular,  and  eyes  sunken,  of  a  bluish-gray 
color,  the  nose  aquiline,  and  the  mouth  indicative  of  a  most 
decided  firmness,  one  would  not,  at  first  view,  be  forcibly 
impressed.  His  manner,  unless  in  company  with  intimate 
friends,  was  unattractive,  and  not  remarkably  social.  H& 
was  not,  as  a  general  fact,  an  interesting  talker,  in  whicli 
class  Mr.  Calhoun  was  pre-eminent.  Indeed,  my  experience 
among  men  leads  me  to  the  conclusion  that  few  men  are 
the  equals  in  this  respect  of  jMr.  Calhoun.  And  yet,  if  Mr. 
McDuifie  were  at  any  time  drawn  into  a  discussion  of  some 
important  subject  in  which  he  felt  deeply  interested,  his 
manner  became  animated,  his  eye  Hashed,  hio  face  would  be 
lighted  up,  and  so  great  was  the  transformation  as  to  pre- 
sent him  in  an  aspect  wholly  differ^^nt  from  that  which  he 
exhibited  in  repose.  Thus,  whether  in  private  conversation 
or  public  debate,  there  were  occasions  when  it  might  be 
revealed  to  the  observer,  that  under  that  reserved  and  un- 


21G  John  N.  AVaddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

pretending  and  quiet  exterior,  were  the  latent  elements  of 
power,  eloquence,  and  statesmanship.  In  liis  day,  and 
during  liis  public  career,  he  was  one  of  the  powerful  orators 
and  political  leaders  in  South  Carolina,  greatly  honored,  and 
almost  idolized  by  his  fellow-citizens. 

I  must  be  indulged  before  leayiiig  this  subject  in  a  re- 
miniscence which  brings  up  a  view  of  Mr.  McDuffie's  beau- 
tiful country  seat,  known  i:i  those  days  by  the  name  "  Cherry 
Hill."  It  had  always  been  admired  for  its  natural  attrac- 
tions, but  its  first  proprietor,  Maj.  Ezekiel  Noble,  a  retired 
citizen  of  Charleston,  aided  by  the  line  taste  of  his  amiable 
and  accomplished  wife,  had  added  to  its  native  beauties 
every  artificial  ornament  that  could  be  commanded  by 
wealth.  But  these  excellent  people  had  long  since  passed 
away,  and  the  place  had  fallen  into  partial  neglect,  losing 
some  of  the  attractions  once  the  result  of  art  and  taste. 
Nevertheless,  it  still  retained  many  of  the  charming  features 
•of  natural  beauty,  of  which  it  could  not  be  robbed,  and 
^'hich  made  it  an  admired  and  delightful  home.  The 
original  dwelling,  erected  on  the  hill,  consisted  of  two  stories 
in  height,  and  was  a  large  square  building,  with  ample 
verandas  above  and  below,  but  it  was  destroyed  by  fire.  A 
building  of  more  moderate  dimensions,  but  commodious  and 
sufficiently  elegant  in  all  its  appointments  had  been  erected 
upon  the  same  spot,  and  like  its  predecessor,  f  nrnished  with 
capacious  verandas,  j^resenting  an  extended  view  of  the  sur- 
rounding country  to  the  south,  west,  and  east.  Oil  the 
north  side  the  hill  descended  precipitously.  Toward  the 
west,  the  view  extended  far  over  into  the  State  of  Georgia, 
while  down  in  the  valley  rolled  the  beautiful  and  majestic 
stream  of  the  Savannah  river,  and  the  horizon  beyond  was 
Bmooth  and  even  in  its  blue  line,  save  only  at  a  point  where 
rose  the  summit  of  Graves'  Mountain,  distant  it  was  said 
about  thirty-five  miles,  in  Columbia  County,  Ga.  As  on  the 
Tvest,  so  also  on  the  east,  the  regular  circle  of  the  horizon 


Cherry  Hill.  217 

•was  interrupted  by  Parson's  Mount,  not  so  distant  as 
the  other,  but  sufficiently  so  to  "  lend  enchantment  to  the 
view."  Orchards  of  every  variety  of  fine  fiuit  flourished  on 
the  premises,  and  directly  around  the  house  bloomed  a 
shrubbery  and  flower-garden  of  the  rarest  description.  The 
place,  even  at  the  time  of  Mr.  McDuflie's  residence,  was  the 
admiration  of  the  whole  land,  and  was  visited  by  many 
transiently  passing  through  the  neighborhood.  Mr.  Mc- 
Duffie  purchased  the  place  from  the  first  proprietor,  and 
this  was  his  home  for  years.  During  the  intervals  of  public 
seiTice,  and  after  his  permanent  retirement  to  private  life, 
in  feeble  health,  here  he  received  and  hospitably  entertained 
his  friends  who  visited  him.     Here  also,  I  think,  he  died. 

After  this  it  j^assed  into  the  hands  of  strangers  unknown 
to  me,  and  it  gradually  foil  into  decay,  and  lost  its  former 
attractiveness. 

In  1861,  being  on  a  pilgrimage  to  my  native  j^lace,  in 
company  with  a  friend,  I  visited  the  spot,  and  as  I  recalled 
the  glories  of  this  ancient  home  of  the  past,  and  surveyed 
its  desolation,  sad  indeed  weie  the  emotions  to  which  the 
scene  gave  rise.  I  gathered  two  roses  that  were  blooming 
alone — "left  on  the  stalk,  to  show  where  the  garden  had 
been,"  fitting  memento  of  Cherry  Hill — and  carried  them 
with  me  to  mv  distont  w^estern  home. 


CHAPTEK  IX. 

Purchase  of  Land  in  Alabama  and  KEMOVAii. — Signal,  Pkoyidential 
Inteefeeence  in  My  Behalf. 

MY  time  passed  ratlier  unprofitably  during  the  year  of 
our  settlement  in  our  new  home.  I  was  a  small  far- 
mer, not  what  was  known  as  a  planter,  but  lived  on  a  very 
pleasant  farm,  and  had  a  very  happy  home.  I  enjoyed  the- 
work  of  improving  the  place,  in  reading,  and  visiting  my 
neio-hbors  to  some  extent.  "We  enjoyed  church  privileges 
also,  being  conveniently  located  so  as  to  attend  my  father's 
church,  at  'Willington,  and  my  brother's,  at  Hopewell,  at 
pleasure.  Everything  in  our  daily  routine  passed  on  quietly 
and  prosperously.  ^Yith  a  view  to  the  improvement  of  my 
wife's  health,  and  to  add  to  her  enjoyment  and  that  of  her 
friends,  we  projected  a  visit  to  Alabama.  Accordingly,  in 
August  of  the  year  1835,  we  made  a  successful  and  unevent- 
ful journey  by  comfortable  private  conveyance  to  Greene 
county,  and  were  cordially  welcomed.  During  this  visit  of 
some  months  events  of  great  interest  and  importance  to  me 
occurred,  which  more  or  less  influenced  my  future.  It  was 
just  at  that  period  when  the  whole  countiy  was  driving 
rapidly  on  to  one  of  those  crises  in  financial  matters  which 
have  periodically  marked  our  history  as  a  people.  There 
was  a  rage  for  land  speculation  in  the  "West,  and  especially 
in  the  Southwest.  AYhen  I  left  home  it  was  with  no  expecta- 
tion that  I  could  be  induced  to  remove  from  South  Carolina  to 
Alabama.  I  had  a  fresh  plantation;  my  home  and  many 
friends  were  in  South  Carolina,  and  I  could  see  no  prospect  of 
improving  my  condition  by  a  change  of  residence.  Besides, 
I  was  well  aware  of  the  fact  that  I  could  make  no  purchase 
of  land  in  Alabama  without  incurring  debt,  and  up  to  this 

218 


Land  Purchased  in  Alabama.  21^ 

time  I  had  been  acting  upon  a  principle  instilled  into  me 
by  my  father,  to  avoid  debt  as  much  as  possible.  Looking 
far  back  now  to  those  early  days,  and  to  the  mental  troubles^ 
consequent  upon  the  events  referred  to  above,  I  find  reason 
enough  to  regret  the  fact  that  I  yielded  to  the  advice  of 
others,  however  kindly  given.  But  although  I  was  made  to 
suffer  for  some  years  in  many  respects,  I  have  often  felt  a 
conviction  since,  that  all  those  burdensome  troubles  were 
permitted  to  befall  me,  and  for  a  time  to  darken  my  pros- 
pects, for  wise  purposes  in  the  providence  of  God.  I  am 
led  to  this  conclusion  from  the  fact  that,  by  reason  of  these- 
events,  my  whole  course  of  life  was  revolutionized,  and  that 
they  constituted  essential  links  in  the  chain  of  circumstances 
that  led  me,  as  I  trust,  to  a  wiser  choice  of  pursuit.  So 
true  is  it  that  "it  is  not  in  man  that  walketh  to  direct  his 
steps."     But  I  am  anticipating. 

^Yhile  with  my  friends  in  Greene  county,  Ala.,  a  visit  to 
the  county  of  Sumter  was  proposed  by  my  friends,  Messrs. 
Gray  and  Quarles,  as  an  exciu'sion  merely,  without  any  view 
of  entering  the  land  market  at  all.  There  was  a  fine  tract 
of  land  in  the  prairie  near  Gainesville  for  sale.  After  view- 
ing this  land,  my  friend,  Major  Quarles,  conceived  the  idea 
that  it  would  be  a  very  fine  investment ;  but  as  it  was  an  ex- 
tensive tract,  it  would  be  safer  to  purchase  only  a  part,  and 
as  he  knew  the  prospect  of  siDcedy  increase  in  its  value  was 
very  bright,  he  suggested  to  me  to  unite  with  him  and  each 
pm-chase  a  i)art  of  the  land,  and  so  take  the  whole  body. 
Tlie  terms  on  which  it  was  offered  were  $12.50  per  acre, 
with  three  years'  time,  without  cash  payment  in  advance, 
but  with  interest  from  date.  At  that  time  I  declined  the 
proposal  utterly,  and  the  representations  made  to  me  by 
others,  regarded  as  good  judges,  that  the  land  was  cheap 
and  the  terms  favorable,  produced  no  impression  upon  me. 

We  returned  from  our  trip  of  inspection  without  making 
any  such  purchase.     A  letter  which  I  received  from  home 


220  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  B.,  LL.  D. 

j)roduced  a  sudden  change  in  my  views,  so  that  I  was  induced 
to  entertain  with  favor  the  idea  of  leaving-  South  Carohna, 
and  setthng  i^ermanently  in  Alabama.  The  particulars  of 
this  train  of  thought  need  not  be  here  detailed,  but  it  will 
Le  sufficient  to  state  that  such  was  the  excitement  of  my 
mind  produced  by  the  letter  that  I  decided  (very  hastily  as 
I  now  perceive),  to  leave  South  Carolina,  and  settle  in  Ala- 
bama. The  next  act  of  the  ill-judged  proceeding  was  the 
purchase  of  the  Sumter  land.  Here  began  my  pecuniary 
difficulties,  and  I  record  this  transaction  merely  to  serve  as 
a  Avarning  to  any  who  may  be  patient  enough  to  read  these 
lines,  and  who  may  be,  like  me,  inexperienced  in  such  mat- 
ters. As  an  explanation,  and,  to  some  extent,  a  palliation 
of  this  mistake  of  judgment  w^hich  I  made,  I  mention  two 
facts  as  reasons  for  the  course  j)'^i'sued,  in  addition  to  the 
influence  of  the  letter  received.  77/6  o/ie  was  the  j^ossi- 
Ijility,  which  my  friends  regarded  as  a  certainty,  that  the 
lands  would  so  appreciate  in  value  very  shortly  as  to  enable 
me  to  sell  at  an  advance,  should  I  not  wdsh  to  settle  upon  it. 
The  otJier  was,  that  the  sale  of  my  Carolina  lands  would 
yield  me  such  an  amount  as  would  pay  for  the  present  pur- 
chase. Whether  these  consolatory  expectations  w^ere  ever 
realized  in  my  experience  remains  to  be  decided  by  the 
later  developments  of  the  case.  What  occurred  then,  was 
that  the  arrangements  being  all  perfected,  the  trade  was 
closed  at  once. 

Soon  after  this  transaction,  I  returned  with  my  wife  and 
little  boy,  Moses,  leaving  her  mother,  Mrs.  Collier,  with  her 
daughters.  We  sj^ent  the  year  1836  on  our  Carolina  place, 
without  any  unusual  or  important  occurrence  in  our  domestic 
life.  It  was,  however,  an  eventful  year  to  the  country,  and, 
in  some  of  its  aspects,  to  us.  Having  determined  to  leave 
South  Carolina,  my  first  care  was  to  dispose  of  my  planta- 
tion to  the  best  advantage.  I  advertised  it  in  one  of  the 
Charleston  papers,  and  as  a  kind  of  disposition  prevailed  at 


A  Reivl\kkable  Providence.  221 

the  time  among  the  people  of  the  lower  part  of  the  State,  to 
settle  in  the  more  northern  districts,  especially  in  Abbe- 
ville, I  very  soon  had  an  applicant.  Dr.  Joseph  Lee,  of 
Johns  Island,  having  read  my  advertisement,  came  uj)  on  a 
prospecting  tour,  and  on  a  visit  to  his  nephew,  Dr.  Thomas 
Lee,  who  was  a  friend  and  neighbor  of  mine.  The  former, 
after  a  satisfactory  examination  of  my  land,  decided  to  pur- 
chase, and  we  closed  the  trade  at  $4,750  in  cash,  to  be  paid 
on  receiving  the  title.  This,  although  somewhat  less  than 
the  price  at  which  I  held  it,  I  accepted  in  consideration  of 
the  cash  payment,  and  promised  to  give  possession  January 
1817.  The  Spring  being  far  advanced,  and  I  not  quite 
ready  to  remove,  I  remained  on  the  place  to  finish  and  to 
gather  the  growing  crop.  It  may  be  remembered  that  this 
was  the  year  of  the  difficulties  of  the  Government  with  the 
Creek  Indians.  I  allude  to  this  fact  that  I  may  record  a 
most  signal  interposition  of  Divine  Provideoce  in  my  behalf. 
After  disposing  of  my  land,  it  become  advisable  that  I 
should  make  a  preliminary  visit  to  Alabama,  in  order  to 
make  satisfactory  arrangements  for  the  comfortable  settle- 
ment of  my  f  amih^  For  although,  as  already  stated,  I  had. 
purchased  a  tract  of  laud  there,  no  improvements  had  ever 
been  made  on  it.  Preparations  for  the  contemplated  trip 
were  all  made,  and  I  was  expecting  to  take  the  stage-coach 
on  a  certain  day,  the  route  of  its  line  of  travel  leading  di- 
rectly through  the  heart  of  the  Creek  Nation,  the  Indians 
being  hostile.  But  for  some  cause,  not  now  remembered,  I 
was  prevented  from  leaving  on  the  day  appointed.  The 
issue  of  the  case  proved  that  had  I  been  permitted  to  make 
the  tiip  at  that  time  I  should  have  met,  in  all  probability,  a 
violent  death  at  the  hands  of  the  savages.  The  coach  in 
which  I  had  expected  to  travel  brought  its  ill-fated  passen- 
gers unexpectedly  into  the  midst  of  a  formidable  band  of 
the  Indians,  and  it  was  stopped  in  its  j)rogress,  the  driver 
seized  and  tied  to  a  wheel  and  burned  with  the  coach,  the 


222  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

mail  sacks  destroyed,  with  theii'  contents,  and  the  passengers 
massacred.  According'  to  the  lights  then  before  me,  I  felt 
certain  that  the  failui'e  in  my  taking  passage  at  the  time  3et, 
"was  the  kind  Providence  that  saved  my  life.  Thus  I  was 
again  reminded  by  this  incident  that  I  was  called  to  con- 
sider my  salvation,  and  should  have  been  impressed  very 
seriously.  But  I  was  still  careless  and  thoughtless,  "not 
knowing"  (and  I  may  add,  with  shame,  not  caring)  "that 
the  goodness  of  God  was  leading  me  to  repentance."  I  was 
a  lover  of  the  world,  and  felt  satisfied  with  the  flattering 
prospects  it  held  out  to  allure  me. 

The  Creeks  continued  hostile  through  all  the  summer,  and 
I  was  induced  to  abandon  my  westward  trip  for  the  time 
being.  Dui*ing  the  ensuing  autumn  I  accompanied  my 
family,  by  private  conveyance,  to  Alabama,  and,  leaving 
them  with  their  friends,  I  returned  to  South  Carolina  to 
wind  up  my  affairs  and  make  a  final  removal  to  our  new 
home.  I  was  successful  in  collecting  all  my  own  dues,  in- 
cluding the  purchase-money  of  my  place,  and  having  paid  off 
all  my  own  HabiHties  to  the  uttermost,  bade  farewell  to  my 
friends  and  left  for  Alabama,  and  reached  my  destination  in 
January,  1837. 

With  regard  to  my  Sumter  purchase,  I  found  that  the 
prospects  of  its  being  of  enhanced  value  very  soon  were  re- 
garded as  quite  as  promising  as  ever,  and  as  my  friends 
persisted  in  advising  me  to  hold  it,  I  was  easily  persuaded 
to  do  so,  rejecting  a  very  fair  offer  for  it.  Unwise  counsel 
as  this  proved  to  be,  I  blame  myself  more  than  any  one  else 
for  my  course  in  not  accepting  it. 

Before  proceeding  with  this  narrative,  I  must  ask  of  any 
■who  may  have  the  patience  to  read  it,  that  they  excuse  even 
this  imperfect  account  of  my  private  life,  as  I  hold  it  to  have 
been  an  essential  part  of  the  way  in  which  I  was  led  ulti- 
mately to  change  my  entire  course,  to  revolutionize  my 
views  of  life,  and  to  enter  upon  that  career  of  public  eftort 
"which  has  occupied  my  time  for  at  least  half  a  centui-y. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Pour  Yeaks'  Eesidence  in  Alabama,  with  its  Consequences,   and 

Anotheb  Eemovaij. 

ON  my  arrival  in  Greene  county,  Ala.,  as  I  had  no  house 
ready  as  a  residence,  we  boarded  from  January  to  No- 
vember of  the  year  1837.  Our  first-born  little  boy,  Moses, 
was  oiu'  joy  and  our  pride.  He  was  a  bright  and  noble- 
looking  boy.  His  head  was  large,  his  forehead  broad  and 
massive,  his  hair  yellow  and  glossy,  his  eyes  were  bluish 
gray.  He  was  also  a  remarkably  manly  and  (owing  to  his 
mother's  excellent  training)  obedient  child.  AVe  loved  him 
with  a  very  deep  and  devoted  tenderness.  He  was  the  com- 
panion of  many  a  walk  and  ride  through  those  years,  and  I 
do  suppose  that  no  little  fellow  ever  was  happier  than  he. 
Matters  wore  on  thus  imtil,  in  November,  I  had  succeeded 
in  the  completion  of  oui'  first  log-cabin  home  sufficiently,  and 
we  had  just  moved  into  it  when,  on  the  6th  of  November, 
my  beloved  wife  made  me  the  hapj^y  father  of  a  precious 
little  girl,  to  whom  we  gave  the  name  of  Mary  Eobertson,  in 
honor  of  her  dear  grandmother.  Of  these  children,  more 
remains  to  be  recorded  as  the  history  of  my  life  progresses, 
and  events  of  dee^D  and  solemn  importance  to  me  and  mj 
family  transpired. 

Not  long  after  my  settlement  in  Alabama  the  distant  mut- 
terings  of  the  approaching  storm  in  the  commercial  world 
were  heard,  indicating  the  crisis,  and  land  speculation 
ceased  and  land-buyers  disappeared.  I  had  no  further 
offers  for  my  Sumter  lands.  As  none  of  my  friends  resided 
in  Sumter  county,  I  had  no  inducement  to  remove  to  that 
point,  and  I  determined  to  place  my  land  on  the  market,  as 

223 


224  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

• 
I  T\'as  still  hopeful  of  disposing  of  it,  and  found  a  home  in 
Greene  county,  where  our  friends  were.  Within  a  few  years, 
having  had  an  accession  to  our  slave  joroperty  from  South 
Carohna,  I  became  engaged  in  cotton-planting,  to  a  moderate 
extent,  for  the  four  succeeding  years.  I  was  never  a  suc- 
cess as  a  planter,  and  I  dismiss  this  subject  by  stating  that 
unfr.vorable  seasons,  a  hail-storm,  and  a  summer  of  exten- 
sive prevalence  of  malarial  fever  interfered  so  disastrously 
with  our  oj^erations,  that  we  were  decided  to  make  a  change 
of  location  at  the  earliest  favorable  opportunity  that  might 
be  presented.  The  farm  of  my  brother-in-law,  Mr.  (after- 
wards Doctor)  Gray,  adjoined  mine,  and  the  two  together 
constituted  a  large  and  desirable  tract  of  farming  land. 
Just  at  this  time  a  Mississippi  planter  made  us  a  proposition 
to  exchange  a  place  of  his  in  that  State  for  ours,  which  we 
accepted,  for  reasons  that  we  considered  sufficient,  and  ulti- 
mately removed  to  Jasper  county.  Miss.  Before  effecting 
this  removal,  and,  indeed,  before  the  exchange  just  men- 
tioned had  occurred,  I  should  have  recorded  the  most  im- 
portant event  of  all  my  whole  life,  inasmuch  as  it  was  the 
conviction  and  conversion  of  my  soul,  which  occurred  during 
these  four  years  spent  in  Alabama,  in  1838.  As  I  now,  after 
the  lapse  of  fifty  years,  look  back  to  that  time  of  my  life,  I 
recall  that  I  was  very  easy  in  my  mind,  not  having  been 
troubled  with  the  difficulties  that  afterwards  came  upon  me, 
and  I  had  made  a  considerable  j)ayment  on  my  Sumter 
lands,  and  was  not  at  all  pressed  by  creditors.  I  was  hajDpy 
in  all  my  domestic  relations,  and  in  social  intercourse  with 
friends  around  me.  Still  I  know  that  I  did  not  properly 
aj)preciate  my  blessings,  nor  did  I  then  cultivate  as  I  should 
have  done  a  sense  of  my  obligation  to  God,  as  dependent 
upon  Him  for  all  these  blessings.  But  the  time  was  ap- 
proaching when  I  was  brought  to  reahze  my  thoughtless  in- 
gratitude. I  think  it  was  in  the  month  of  October  of  this 
year  that  the  Synod  of  Alabama  held  a  meeting  in  the  old 


Conviction  and  Con\'ersion.  225 

town  of  ^lesopotamia,  near  our  home.  During'  its  sessions 
quite  a  religious  interest  was  awakened  in  the  congregation 
and  community.  Eev.  Daniel  Baker  was  present,  and 
preached  with  his  usual  zeal  and  earnestness.  I  attended 
the  meetings  with  my  family  until  Sabbath  afternoon,  when 
I  returned  home,  leaving  my  wife  with  the  little  ones,  as  she 
seemed  interested  in  the  meeting.  I  w^as  not  moved  at  all 
by  the  excitement  up  to  that  time,  but  occupied  myself  in 
the  matters  of  farming  interest  during  the  Monday  follow- 
ing. Dr.  Gray  came  home  that  evening,  and  remarked 
cheerfully  that  "  he  had  come  down  to  take  me  to  the  meet- 
ing next  day ;  that  my  wife  and  Mrs.  Quarles  had  professed 
a  hope,  and  that  I  must  go  and  attend  also."  I  was  not 
particularly  moved  by  all  this,  and  received  his  proposal 
coolly  and  declined  attending,  upon  the  gi'ound  that  I  appre- 
hended there  w^as  probably  too  much  excitement  in  such 
meetings.  He  said  nothing  in  opposition  to  my  views,  and 
quietly  retired.  I  do  not  doubt  that  his  course  was  wisely 
directed  by  the  God  of  all  grace.  Had  he  pressed  me 
further,  it  is  probable  that,  from  mere  pride  of  opinion,  I 
should  have  adhered  only  more  firmly  to  my  pui'pose.  As  it 
"was,  he  had  no  sooner  left  me  than  I  was  struck  with  a  con- 
viction of  my  wicked  folly  in  recei\^ng  his  proposal  with  such 
positive  rejection.  Simple  as  this  incident  may  appear,  it 
was  this  which  touched  my  hardened  and  locked-up  heart, 
so  that  I  was  led  to  reflect  upon  my  whole  life  and  conduct 
as  they  appeared  in  the  sight  of  God.  Then  it  also  occun-ed 
to  me  with  power  that  I  was  about  to  be  deserted  by  all  my 
friends,  especially  by  my  beloved  wife,  who  w^as  now  re- 
joicing in  hope,  while  I  was  a  self-rejected  outcast.  I  man- 
aged to  pass  that  night  and  the  next  day,  though  not  very 
peacefully  in  my  mind,  in  daily  duties  and  engagements  of 
various  kinds ;  but  when  night  came,  I  passed  a  very  rest- 
less time,  tossing  and  turning  on  my  bed  until  the  dawn  of 
day.  I  arose  very  early,  and  repaired  at  once  to  Dr.  Gray's 
15 


226  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

place,  and  after  stating  unreservedly  to  liim  the  facts  of  my 
case  as  here  recorded,  I  proposed  to  go  up  to  the  meeting 
with  him  when  he  should  retui'n.  My  mortification  may  be 
readil}^  understood  when  he  informed  me  that  the  meeting 
had  closed.  This  deepened  my  conviction  of  the  sinfulness 
of  my  conduct,  and  I  felt  justly  punished  for  my  wilful  per- 
verseness.  As  some  comfort  to  me,  he  proposed  that  I 
should  accompany  him  to  a  meeting  which  he  was  to  attend, 
with  Dr.  Baker,  very  soon,  in  Tuskaloosa,  to  which  I  gladly 
assented.  "We  accordingly  went  uj)  together  and  attended  a 
communion  meeting  with  Dr.  Baker's  church  for  several 
days,  and  before  I  returned  I  found  what,  I  trust,  was  a 
^ood  hope,  through  grace,  of  an  interest  in  Christ.  I  wish 
to  record  here  that  the  human  agency  by  which  I  was 
brought  to  see  my  way  clear  through  my  struggles  on  this 
occasion  was  not  so  much  the  pubhc  preaching  I  attended  in 
the  chiu'ch  as  the  private  instruction  I  received  from  Dr. 
Gray  and  his  exposition  of  our  Bible  readings.  I  had  a 
Yery  erroneous  conception  of  what  constituted  a  true  Chris- 
tian character.  I  had,  in  my  blindness  and  ignorance  of  the 
experience  of  a  child  of  God,  formed  the  idea  that  he  must 
be  perfect,  and  that  no  one  who  had  any  sin  within  or  about 
liim  had  reason  to  beheve  he  was  a  Christian.  Since,  there- 
fore, I  now  had  been  led  to  see  the  native  and  habitual  de- 
pravity of  my  own  heart  more  clearly  and  deeply  than  ever 
l)efore,  I  dared  not  consider  myself  a  Christian  so  long  as 
this  state  of  the  case  continued.  Dr.  Gray's  exposition  of 
the  seventh  chapter  of  Romans,  which  we  read  and  studied 
together,  convinced  me  that  I  was  in  error,  and  that  I  was 
making  personal  righteousness  a  substitute  for  Christ.  I 
w^as  led  to  see  that  the  true  test  of  Christian  character  was 
the  faith  one  must  exercise  in  the  perfect  work  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  that  the  effect  of  that  faith  was  manifested,  not 
so  much  in  a  complete  deliverance  from  all  the  remains  of 
indwelhng  sin,  as  in  the  ability  it  imparted  to  man  to  main- 


C02nrERSI0N.  227 

tain  a  ceaseless  warfare  against  sin  in  all  its  forms.  In  this 
connection  I  add  that  I  felt  great  comfort  from  an  incident 
occurring  diiriug  my  stay  in  Tuskaloosa.  A  copy  of  the 
Watchman  of  the  iSoutJi,  edited  in  lachmond,  Va.,  at  that 
time  by  Dr.  Plumer,  fell  into  my  hands,  and  I  was  attracted 
by  a  letter  of  the  Rev.  Drmy  Lacy,  one  of  the  fathers  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Virginia  of  the  last  centuiy.  It  was 
to  this  effect : 

"  When  I  read  the  lives  of  the  saints  as  recorded  I  ven- 
tui'e  to  entertain  some  hope  that  I  am  a  child  of  God ;  but 
"when  I  look  into  my  own  heart  and  see  what  a  nest  of 
vipers,  what  a  cage  of  unclean  birds  it  is,  I  am  almost  re- 
duced to  despaii'.  But  thanks  to  God !  Christ  can  cast 
them  all  out !  " 

I  was  conscious  at  once  of  two  reflections  :  First,  If  such 
an  eminent  saint  of  God  was  so  beset  with  sin,  my  theory 
about  perfection  was  untrue,  and  hence  it  could  not  be  main- 
tained that  the  remnants  of  sin  lingering  within  the  heart 
was  proof  that  one  was  not  a  Christian.  Second,  I  saw  the 
place  occupied  by  Christ  in  the  plan  of  salvation :  "  Thanks 
be  to  God!  who  giveth  us  the  victory  through  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ !  "  Henceforth  I  feel  that  I  have  had  clear 
views  of  the  divine  scheme  of  redemption  and  of  my  own  in- 
terest in  Christ,  though  often  obscured  by  doubts.  I  have 
felt  that  I  can  aj^propriate  the  language  of  the  man  born 
blind,  whom  Christ  restored  to  sight:  "One  thing  I  know, 
that  whereas  I  n'as  blind,  7ioio  I  see."  As  I  read  this  letter, 
which  ai)peared  to  confirm  Paul's  teachings  in  the  seventh 
chapter  of  Pomans,  I  was  conscious  that  a  ray  of  light  passed 
into  my  mind  and  dispersed  the  darkness,  and  I  settled 
down  in  a  calm  and  i^leasing  ho^De  that  God  had,  for  Christ's 
sake,  pardoned  all  my  sins.  Such  a  change  came  over  my 
entire  being  that  all  my  faculties,  affections,  and  motives 
were  renovated  ;  "  old  things  passed  away,  and  all  things 
became  ntw."     It  was  with  new  eyes  that  I  now  regarded 


228  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

all  things  in  this  world  in  their  relations  to  the  future.  It 
became  to  me  a  question  of  most  solemn  interest  and  most 
profound  importance,  "  What  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do  ?  " 

On  the  evening  of  my  arrival  at  home  I  began  the  duty  of 
family  worship,  though  not  then  a  member  of  the  church, 
and  upon  the  altar  then  erected,  the  morning  and  evening 
incense  has  been  offered  even  to  the  present  time.  While  it 
was  still  true  that  sin  was  dwelling  within,  and  "  mixed  with 
aU  I  did,"  yet  it  was  "  a  grief  and  burden  "  to  me,  and  kept 
me  humble  in  the  sight  of  God. 

The  year  1839  found  us  all  with  our  beloved  circle  still 
unbroken.  In  April  quite  a  gathering  of  ministers  occiuTed 
in  Mesopotamia,  probably  a  called  meeting  of  the  Presby- 
tery. Eev.  John  Breckinridge  was  present,  acting  as  agent 
of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  and  was  preaching  with 
great  jDOwer  and  unction  for  several  days.  At  that  time  my 
wife  and  I  were  received  into  the  church,  and  our  chil- 
dren, with  others,  were  baptized  by  Dr.  Breckinridge. 
I  had  been  thinking  seriously,  but  in  a  rather  undecided 
way,  upon  the  subject  of  my  duty  in  reference  to  the  minis- 
tiy,  and  jet  I  think  now  that,  had  I  been  left  to  myself,  I 
might  have  been  led  to  abandon  entirely  the  idea  of  enter- 
ing upon  the  great  work  of  j)reaching  the  gosjDel.  But  I 
was  not  thus  left  in  this  state  of  mind.  It  pleased  God, 
whose  hand  I  devoutly  recognize  in  all  my  history,  not  to 
leave  me  thus  at  ease  in  Zion ;  for  just  as  I  was  settling 
down  in  this  way  He  laid  the  heavy  hand  of  His  affliction 
upon  me,  and  "  What  doest  thou  here  ?  "  was  the  question 
that  seemed  to  fall  upon  my  startled  soul. 

About  the  first  of  May,  1839,  our  darling  boy,  our  first- 
born, little  Moses,  was  violently  attacked  with  dysentery, 
and,  notwithstanding  aU  human  efforts  of  the  most  skillful 
physicians  and  friends,  he  closed  his  eyes  in  death  after  a 
brief  and  painful  illness.  I  need  not  say  how  fervently  we 
besought  the  Lord  to  spare  him  to  us,  if  possible.     But  it 


The  First  Berkwement.  229 

Ts-as  not  tlie  will  of  the  all-wise  Father  that  our  prayers 
should  be  answered  in  that  way.     He  passed  away  in  his 
beauty  and  in  his  brightness,  aged  four  years  and  three 
months.     It  is  not  in  the  power  of  language  to  convey  to  the 
inexperienced  any  conception  of  the  shadow  of  deep  gloom 
that  rested  upon  our  Httle  circle  when  this  one  of  the  lights 
of  our  dweUing  faded  into  the  darkness  of  death.     The 
spring-time  sun  shone  as  brightly  as  ever  to  others  ;  the 
forest  put  forth  its  green  rol)es  of  foliage  as  beautifully  as 
ever;  the  birds  warbled  their  melodies  as  usual;  the  rain 
and  the  dews  came  and  refreshed  the  earth  ;  the  cool  foun- 
tains still  poured  forth  their  streams  for  the  thirsty ;  and 
the  affairs  of  the  great  toihng,  rushing,  and  ambitious  world 
moved  on  as  they  were  wont  to  do ;  but  all  was  sad  to  us, 
inexpressibly  sad !     There  was  a  di-mness  in  the  sunlight ; 
the  woods  wore  a  sad  look ;  the  song  of  the  birds  was  mourn- 
ful, and  all  nature  seemed  to  wear  a  gloomy  aspect ;  and 
while  the  light  of  oui'  dwelUng  was  not  wholly  extinguished, 
there  came  over  us  all  an  unutterable  sense  of  lonehness, 
from  which  we  did  not  recover  for  weary  months ;  for  we 
had,  all  of  us,  unconsciously  suffered  the  little  fellow  to  be- 
come so  intimately  entwined  in  our  affections  that  it  seemed 
as  though  our  hearts  must  break  when  he  died.     I  have  felt 
the  pangs  of  deepest  sorrow  many  times  since,  but  let  it  be 
noted  that  this  was  oiu'  fii-st-born  who  was  taken,  and  then 
it  may  be  understood  that  the  wound  must  of  necessity  have 
been  one  of  peculiar  intensity.     The  pressure  of  debt  was 
now  beginning  to  be  felt,  in  addition  to  this  affliction,  and 
although  in  possession  of  sufficient  property  to  meet  my  ob- 
ligations thus  ]oressing,  it  was  not  desirable  to  sacrifice  it, 
and  it  remained  as  a  trouble  to  us  for  some  years,  until,  in 
the  good  providence  of  God,  we  were  enabled  to  relieve  our- 
selves and  to  feel  free  once  more.     But  allusion  is  made  to 
these  things  only  to  trace  the  dealings  of  God's  providence 
in  weaning  me  away  from  that  world  which  had  so  attracted 


230  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  T>.,  LL.  D. 

my  interest,  and,  by  this  intermingling  of  sorrow  and  dis- 
appointment, to  turn  my  thoughts  and  hopes  to  a  more  en- 
during scene  of  action,  and  one  that  would  not  only  contri- 
bute to  make  me  happier,  but  introduce  me  to  a  higher 
sjDhere  of  effort,  leading  to  permanent  usefulness  to  my  fel- 
low-men. During  the  summer  I  had  made  up  my  mind 
fully  to  enter  the  gospel  ministiy,  after  prayerful  delibera- 
tion and  consultation  with  Christian  friends,  in  whose  judg- 
ment and  experience  I  reposed  full  confidence.  In  passing, 
it  was  a  source  of  gratification  to  me  that  this  fact,  commu- 
nicated to  my  aged  father,  would  bring  pleasure  to  him  in 
his  affliction,  as  I  knew^  that  long  before  this  time  he  had 
cherished  the  wash  and  prayed  that  I  might  be  called  to  the 
ministry,  but  for  years  past  had  given  up  all  such  expecta- 
tions. 

It  was  in  the  month  of  October  of  this  jbslv  (1839)  that  I 
attended  a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Tuskaloosa  in  Liv- 
ingston, Ala.,  and  placed  myself  under  its  care  as  a  candi- 
date for  the  ministry.  At  this  meeting  Kev.  A.  A.  Porter 
was  also  received  as  a  candidate  with  m^'self.  He  was  after- 
wards a  prominent  minister  of  the  Southern  church,  and 
editor,  for  some  years,  of  the  Southern  Presbyterian^  in  Co- 
lumbia, S.  C.  Dr.  Baker,  Avho  was  then  a  member  of  Pres- 
bytery, was  enthusiastic  in  the  expression  of  his  gratification 
on  the  reception  of  Mr.  Porter,  saying :  *'  Yes,  Moderator, 
and  a  hundred  more  just  such."  I  was  directed  to  com- 
mence my  studies  at  once.  My  literary  course,  as  I  remem- 
ber, was  sustained,  and  I  was  required  to  prepare  certain 
parts  of  trial  for  future  examination.  The  parts  assigned 
me  on  w^hich  to  prepare  were:  First,  a  Latin  exegesis  on 
some  theological  question;  second,  a  critical  exercise  on  1 
Tim.  iii.  16,  and  a  lecture  on  the  fifteenth  Psalm,  and  a 
popular  sermon  on  2  Cor.  v.  21.  All  these,  except  the  last, 
were  prepared,  submitted,  and  sustained  at  successive  meet- 
ings of  the  Presbytery  of  Tuskaloosa  while  I  resided  in  Ala- 


STUDYINa  FOR  THE  !MlNISTEY.  231 

bama.     The  remaining  months  of  the  year  found  me  busily 
engaged  in  private  study  under  the  general  instruction  and 
guidance  of  Rev.  Dr.  Gray,  and  at  the  close  of  the  year  I 
^as  considerably  advanced  in  my  i^reparations.     During  a. 
portion  of  this  time  I  was  associated  in  study,  as  a  fellow- 
student,  with  that  devoted  missionary  to  the  Indians,  Eev. 
Eobert  Loughridge.     I  was  never  an  attendant  upon  the 
instructions  of  any  of  our  excellent  theological  seminaries,  as 
I  really  felt  that,  as  I  was  a  man  of  family,  I  had  amply  suffi- 
cient reason  for  adopting  the  course  of  jDrivate  study.     I  re- 
mained a  citizen  of  Alabama  during  the  year  1840,  and  at- 
tended the  spring  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  but  I  am  not 
certain  that  I  attended  the  meeting  in  the   fall.     At  all 
events,  I  had  presented,  as  before  recorded,  all  my  parts  of 
trial,  except  the  popular  sermon,  and  they  were  all  sustained. 
Our  third  child,  Elizabeth  "Woodson  Pleasants,  was  bom 
in  1840,  and  during  this  summer  the  exchange  of  our  places 
for  Mississipioi  lands,  mentioned  already,  took  place.     We 
made  all  the  necessary  arrangements,  exchanged  titles,  gave 
possession,  and  effected  our  removal  to  Jasper  county,  Miss. 


CHAPTER  XL 

A  Visit  to  South  Carolina,  and  Kemoyal  of  Family  to  Mississippi.  — 
Business  Settlements  in  Mobile,  and  an  Inteeesting  Incident 
There. — New  Home. 

SOME  ^particulars  preliminary  to  my  own  departure  must 
be  recorded  just  here.  I  was  recalled  to  South  Carolina 
on  business  connected  with  the  final  settlement  of  my  fa- 
ther's estate.  Leaving  the  entire  matter  of  the  removal  to 
"Mississippi  in  Dr.  Gray's  hands,  all  of  which  he  superin- 
tended and  successfully  accomplished,  I  returned  to  South 
Carolina.  I  found  matters  easily  and  j^leasantly  settled, 
and  after  no  long  delay  there,  I  came  back  to  Alabama.  I 
of  course  found  that  everybody  belonging  to  both  families 
had  gone  to  Mississippi,  and  strange  faces  now^  met  me,  as 
the  place  w^as  in  possession  of  new  owners.  The  scene  was 
sufficiently  dreary  by  the  contrast,  and  as  soon  as  I  could 
with  convenience,  I  took  boat  for  Mobile,  our  market  town. 
Both  my  ow^n  and  Dr.  Gray's  cotton  crops  had  already  gone 
down  to  the  city,  and  the  agreement  made  before  we  had 
separated  was  that  we  should  meet  in  Mobile.  He  was  to 
go  down  from  the  new  home  in  Mississippi  and  I  from 
Greene  county  to  make  sale  of  cotton  and  ^^urchase  family 
supplies.  On  my  arrival  in  the  city  I  found  that,  for  some 
reason,  he  had  been  delayed,  and  was  not  there.  I  could 
not  leave  Mobile  without  meeting  him,  as  we  were  to  agree 
upon  some  matters  there  to  be  settled,  and  I  was  to  return 
to  Eutaw  previous  to  my  final  departure  for  Mississippi,  so 
I  remained  in  Mobile  about  a  week,  awaiting  his  arrival. 
Owing  to  some  unexpected  complications  in  my  business 
■which  I  found  in  the  city  on  my  arrival,  I  felt  the  need  of 

232 


Providential  Leadings.  233 

'Counsel,  and  the  time  passed  slowly,  and  the  week  was  one 
of  extreme  loneliness  and  discomfort.     While  thus  detained, 
an  incident  of  apparently  an  unimportant  nature  occurred, 
which  seemed  to  have  a  bearing  upon  my  future,  and  which 
really  shed  a  ray  of  comfort  upon  my  cheerless  surround- 
ings.    On  one  of  those  lonely  days  of  waiting  I  was  walking 
the  street,  and  passing  a  reading-room,  I  stepped  in  to  read 
the  news  of  the  day  and  to  while  away  the  heavy  hours.     In  a 
Mississippi  paper,  that  first  attracted  my  attention  by  its 
name,  I  found  the  jom-nal  of  the  proceedings  of  the  State 
Legislatm-e,  then  in  session.     Inasmuch  as  I  should  be  a 
citizen  of  that  State,  the  paper  very  natui'ally  claimed  my 
special  attention  and  interest.     So  I  read  on  and  found  that 
it  contained  the  action  of  the  Legislature  in  locating  the 
State  University  at  Oxford,  in  the  northern  part  of  Missis- 
sippi.    I  have  frequently  referred  to  this  incident,  in  con- 
versation with  friends,  as  one  that  was  undoubtedly  con- 
nected with  my  future  hfe,  and  in  this  way  :    I  believe  that 
my  entering  that  reading-room  on  that  occasion  was  under 
divine  direction,  and  that  my  heavenly  Father  designed  it 
mercifully  as  a  means  of  temporary  comfort  to  me  under  the 
gloomy  shadows  that  were  then  resting  upon   me.     It  is 
quite  probable,  I  think,  that  many,  perhaps  a  majority  of 
people,  would  i^ronounce  it  "a  mere  accident:'     But  I  do 
not  so  interpret  it.     I  am  sure  that  the  immediate  effect 
upon  me  w^as  to  arouse  my  mind  to  the  prospect  of  future 
usefulness  in  a  sphere  better  adapted  to  my  training  and 
habits.     Let  me  recall  the  fact  that  when  my  father  de- 
cided so  positively  that  he  designed  me  for  a  teacher  I  ac- 
cepted the  decision  with  reluctance,  and  it  was  with  a  feel- 
ing somewhat  akin  to  aversion  that  I  regarded  that  callino- 
yet,  after  entering  upon  it,  and  laboiing  in  it  for  several 
years,  I  became  convinced  that  it  was  a  work  in  which  I 
could  be  useful,  and  I  began  to  enjoy  it.     How  I  was  led  to 
abandon  it  for  another  occupation  has  ah'eady  been  related. 


234  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

Now,  just  there,  in  that  reading-room  in  Mobile,  while  see- 
ing only  the  announcement  of  the  location  of  a  school  of 
learning,  of  which  I  not  only  had  never  heard,  but  of  which 
I  had  never  thought,  I  was  conscious  of  the  admission  into 
my  mind  of  the  possibility  that  I  might  in  some  future  day 
be  connected  with  that  institution.  I  admit  that  the  thought, 
improbable  as  it  may  seem,  and  the  realization  of  which  was 
so  doubtful,  did  convey  to  me  at  that  time  no  inconsiderable 
degree  of  comfort.  Still  I  knew  full  well  that  there  lay  out 
before  me  a  long  and  dreary  way  to  be  traversed  before  I 
could  emerge  into  light.  Let  me  dismiss  this  incident  now 
by  remarking  that,  although  it  passed  into  a  state  of  sus- 
pension in  my  mind,  it  was  never  totally  lost,  but  as  years 
passed  on  in  m}^  career,  it  was  occasionally  revived  by  occur- 
rences that  successively  took  place,  and  that,  in  their  combined 
influence,  matured  the  first  suggestion  into  full  realization. 

But  to  return.  At  length  Dr.  Gray  arrived,  and  after 
consulting  with  him  and  others  as  to  the  best  method  of 
proceeding,  I  returned  to  the  neighborhood  of  my  former 
home,  and  ha^dng  made  satisfactory  arrangements,  after 
another  trip  to  Mobile  and  back,  I  bade  a  final  adieu  to 
Alabama,  and  took  my  departure  alone  on  horseback  for 
Mississippi.  After  a  ride  of  more  than  one  hundred  miles, 
and  suffering  no  Kttle  bodily  pain  from  exposure  and  men- 
tal discomfort,  I  was  permitted,  "  by  the  good  hand  of  my 
God  upon  me,"  once  more  to  embrace  my  beloved  family, 
and,  surrounded  by  all  I  held  dear,  I  felt,  for  the  time,  free 
and  independent  of  earthly  trouble. 

I  arrived  in  Jasper  county,  my  future  place  of  residence, 
on  March  7,  1841,  and  after  resting  and  looking  about  for  a 
time,  I  employed  myself  in  superintending  matters  of  the 
farm  and  getting  things  in  working  order.  The  large  body 
of  lands  for  which  we  had  exchanged  our  Alabama  posses- 
sions, consisting  of  2,550  acres,  we  found  to  be  about  what 
we  had  been  led  to  expect.     It  was  not  so  convenient  to 


New  Home  in  Mississippi.  235 

market,  but  it  was,  mucli  of  it,  quite  fertile,  aucl  a  very 
healthful  location,  which  latter  point  was  a  special  recom- 
mendation to  us,  after  our  experience  in  Alabama  of  exces- 
sive sickness  in  the  preceding  season.     Our  first  care  was  to 
make  an  equitable  division  of  the  tract  into  two  plantations, 
which  was  done  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  parties.     As 
on  the  portion  of  the  j)lace  which  fell  to  me  there  was  no 
suitable  dwelling,  I  proceeded  to  build,  and  in  due  time  fin- 
ished a  new  and  commodious  house,  which,  though  made  of 
hewn   logs,   fui-nished   us    a   very   comfortable   home   dur- 
ing seven  years  and  a  half.     It  was  a  plain  structure,  but 
neat,  and  built  in  the  style  that  was  fashionable  in  the 
neighborhood.     It  is  part  of  my  history  that  will  be  impor- 
tant, in  its  connections  with  my  future  and  subsequent  life, 
that  I  endeavor  to  give  the  reader  a  concise  description  of 
that  part  of  the  country  into  which  we  had  removed.     None 
of  us  had  ever  taken  up  our  abode  in  such  a  region  as  we 
found  in  the  northwestern  pai't  of  Jasper  county,  Miss.     It 
was  one  of  the  eastern  counties  of  the  State,  and  at  the  time 
of  our  settlement  it  was  distant  from  the  State  capital  at 
least  sixty  miles.     The  nearest  railway  then  in  existence  was 
the  Vicksburg  and  Jackson  road,  and  our  intercourse,  social 
and  commercial,  with  that  part  of  the  country  was  kept  up 
by   private    conveyance    altogether   over   wretched    roads, 
through  swamps,  and  over  hills.     But  the  immediate  region 
around  us  on  our  first  arrival  was  in  an  extremely  rude  and 
uncivilized  condition.     For  the  first  two  years  of  our  resi- 
dence there  we  were  surrounded  by  Indians  of  the  Choctaw 
tribe,  who  had  not  then  been  removed  by  the  Government 
to  their  western  destination.     They  were  entirely  harmless 
and  friendly,  and  they  were  hired  by  the  planters  and  farm- 
ers to  cultivate  and  gather  crops  for  simple  wages,  either  of 
money  or  provisions.     They  w^ere  miserably  poor  and  squalid 
in  their  appearance,  dress,  and  manners.     So,  also,  while  we 
h^d  around  us   some   exceedingly  pleasant  neighbors,  yet 


236  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

there  were  still  residing  there  some,  j^erhaps  a  good  many, 
who  were  low  and  degraded  in  all  their  instincts  and  habits. 
Our  predecessor  in  the  place  we  now  owned,  a  man  of 
"wealth,  and  a  Presbyterian  by  profession,  had  erected  a 
very  plain  house  of  worship  in  the  immediate  neighborhood, 
which  was  used  by  the  Methodists  as  a  j^i'eaching  station, 
as  they  are  found  the  pioneers  of  Christian  ci"silization 
almost  ubiquitous.  But  very  little  respect  was  manifested 
by  the  inhabitants  for  religious  institutions,  especially  the 
Sabbath.  Hunting  cattle  and  deer  was  the  chief  enjoyment 
of  this  class  of  the  inhabitants,  and  visiting  on  business  and 
pleasure  were  their  chief  occupations.  But  so  much  the 
greater  need  for  work  was  the  thought  that  pressed  upon  us 
all  in  our  new  outlook  upon  the  surroundings.  So,  with  a 
view  to  the  spiritual  needs  of  those  families  of  the  place,  in- 
cluding our  own,  who  earnestly  desired  the  privileges  of  the 
church  and  the  Sabbath,  and  also  the  hope  of  gathering  the 
careless,  thoughtless,  and  heathen  around  us  to  the  benefits 
of  the  church  ordinances,  Dr.  Gray  commenced  preaching 
in  the  house  already  mentioned.  AYe  had  a  small  congrega- 
tion at  first,  but  we  soon  succeeded  in  establishing  a  pro- 
mising Sabbath-school,  consisting  of  his  family  and  mine 
and  those  of  the  neighborhood  who  were  already  trained 
elsewhere.  During  the  summer  and  fall  quite  an  accession 
to  our  population  was  made  by  the  immigration  of  respect- 
able citizens,  and  a  very  good  church  was  organized,  with 
two  elders,  of  which  I  was  one,  and  the  name  chosen  for  the 
church  was  Montrose. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Peosecution  of  Ministerial  Studies. — Licensure  by  Presbytery  op 
Mississippi,  — Places  of  my  First  Years  of  Preaching. 

OUR  removal  from  the  bounds  of  tlie  Presbytery  of  Tiiska- 
loosa  made  it  necessaiy  to  connect  ourselves  with  the 
Presbytery  of  ^Mississippi,  into  whose  bounds  we  had  re- 
moved. I  kept  up  my  theological  studies  as  faithfully  as 
was  possible  in  private,  my  trials  having  all  been  passed  and 
approved,  save  the  popular  sermon.  Having  obtained  let- 
ters of  dismission,  we  left  home  in  September,  and  rode 
horseback  across  the  country  one  hundred  and  twent}"  miles, 
to  Ebenezer  church,  in  Jefferson  county,  where  the  Presby- 
teiy  of  Mississippi  held  its  fall  meeting.  The  venerable 
Rev.  William  Montgomery  was  the  minister  in  charge  of 
that  church  at  the  time.  He  has  long  since  gone  to  rest,, 
and  the  church  has  been  dissolved.  Rev.  Jeremiah  Cham- 
berlain, D.  D.,  presided  as  Moderator  of  Presb}i;ery  at  this 
meeting.  He  was  then  the  honored  and  beloved  President 
of  Oakland  College,  afterwards  brutally  miu'dered.  After 
my  reception  and  examination  on  some  final  prehminary 
points,  I  preached  my  "popular  sermon"  on  2  Cor.  v.  21, 
the  subject  being  "  The  Doctrine  of  Substitution."  I  was 
then  licensed  (the  Moderator  presiding)  as  a  probationer  to 
preach  the  gospel.  My  first  attempt  in  this  solemn  office 
was  made  in  the  chui'ch  at  home,  Montrose,  on  the  Sabbath 
succeeding  my  licensure,  a  church  recently  organized,  where 
Dr.  Gray  preached  regularly,  save  when  absent  on  mission- 
ary work.  My  text  was  the  sixth  verse  of  the  fifty-fifth 
chapter  of  Isaiah,  and  my  sermon  was  delivered  from  notes. 
I  found  no  scarcity  of  fields  for  work,  although  there  were 

237 


238  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

no  organized  cliurches  in  that  destitute  country  immediately 
around  us.  The  first  place  to  which  I  was  invited  to  preach 
was  the  town  of  Raleigh,  in  the  adjoining  county  of  Smith, 
near  this  place,  in  the  country.  I  found  several  Presbyte- 
rians— the  Curries  and  Campbells,  one  of  the  latter  having 
been  an  elder  in  the  State  of  his  former  residence.  I  occu- 
pied the  court-house  as  a  preaching  place  for  the  town  and 
country  people ;  but  the  prospect  of  the  organization  of  a 
church  being  by  no  means  encouraging,  and  the  congrega- 
tions continuing  small,  after  a  brief  trial  I  abandoned  the 
fi.eld.  Years  passed  after  that  before  there  was  any  change 
in  that  place,  but  I  find  on  the  minutes  of  the  Central  Mis- 
sissippi Presbytery  the  name  of  a  vacant  church,  Haleigh ; 
so  I  suppose  there  is  such  a  church  in  existence  in  a  feeble 
condition. 

A.bout  this  time  I  began  preaching  at  a  place  in  Newton 
county,  distant  about  twelve  miles  north  of  my  home.  Here 
also  were  found  Presbyterians,  the  Thompsons  and  McFar- 
lands,  who  had  formerly  resided  in  an  older  settlement 
where  there  was  a  Presbyterian  church.  Two  efficient 
elders  were  made  from  this  material,  and  here  we  were  suc- 
cessful in  collecting  a  sufficient  number  to  enable  Dr.  Gray 
to  organize  a  very  good  church,  to  which  we  gave  the  name 
Mount  Moriah. 

It  should  have  been  stated  that  the  churches  in  that  re- 
gion, soon  after  om-  settlement,  had  all  been  transferred  to 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  Presbytery  of  Tombeckbee.  This 
church  is  still  in  existence,  after  the  lapse  of  more  than 
forty  years,  but  is  reported  vacant. 

After  leaving  Ealeigh,  my  first  field,  I  was  invited  to  a 
place  some  twenty- five  miles  west  of  my  home,  on  the  road 
to  Jackson,  in  Smith  county,  and  here  we  found  promise  of 
favorable  results,  and  a  church  was  organized  there,  with 
two  elders.  Col.  Samuel  Lemly,  late  of  Sahsbury,  N.  C,  and 
Mr.  Wilham  Broadf oot,  of  Fayetteville,  N.  C.    To  this  church 


First  Preachit>Tt  Places.  239 

we  gave  the  name  Mount  Hermou.  The  material  of  which 
it  was  composed  consisted  j)artly  of  Presbyterians  and  partly 
of  Lutherans,  who,  being*  dej)rived  of  an  organization  of 
their  own,  united  with  our  people.  This  union  continued  as 
long  as  I  ministered  to  them.  But  in  process  of  time  a 
Lutheran  minister  came  into  the  neighborhood,  and  the 
Lutherans  rallied  to  their  old  standard,  and  a  church  was 
organized  of  that  denomination.  This  circumstance,  com- 
bined with  a  diminution  of  numbers  by  death  and  removal, 
resulted  in  the  dissolution  of  the  church ;  and  my  informa- 
tion leads  me  to  think  that  the  few  remaining  members  of 
the  church  were  received  into  another  church,  called  Tren- 
ton, not  far  from  the  old  location.  Among  the  churches  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Central  Mississippi  the  name  Mt.  Hermon 
appears ;  it,  however,  is  not  the  same,  as  its  location  seems 
to  be  in  Madison  countv.  For  the  years  during-  which  I 
preached  there  I  greatly  enjoyed  the  association  with  that 
warm-hearted  people,  although  my  service  to  them  required 
of  me  a  trip  of  fifty  miles  twice  in  each  month  to  and  fro, 
and  I  have  always  felt  thankful  that  I  had  reason  to  believe 
that  into  the  Zion  of  the  Saviour  "  this  man  and  that  man 
were  born  there."  Thus  I  spent  the  first  year  of  my  minis- 
try, and  the  fruits  of  my  humble  labors  in  that  sphere  of 
effort,  while  unknown  now,  will  be  found  recorded  in  the 
"Book  of  Eemembrance  "  in  that  day  when  the  Lord  shall 
*' number  His  jewels." 

It  is  needful  now  to  collect  some  items  of  this  narrative 
of  a  somewhat  different  nature,  but  which  would  perhaps 
have  been  out  of  place  if  recorded  at  an  earlier  period.  Up 
to  this  point  matters  more  private  and  personal  have  occu- 
pied my  thoughts,  but  thej'  were  not  without  a  material  in- 
fluence upon  those  events  which  will  be  found,  in  their  com- 
bination, to  constitute  the  story  of  the  most  important  years 
of  a  life  now  protracted  beyond  human  allotment.  My  ar- 
rangements for  preaching  had  all  been  made  satisfactorily, 


240  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

and  I  had  all  my  Sabbaths  occui^ied,  and  felt  happy  in  my 
humble  sphere  to  be  employed,  with  some  hopeful  promise 
of  usefulness,  instead  of  living  in  comparative  idleness.  Yet 
I  felt  that  I  was  under  obligations  to  combine  with  my  farm- 
ing operations  some  other  occupation,  so  as  to  meet  a  rem- 
nant of  unsettled  claims  still  resting  upon  me,  and  to  add 
something  to  my  labors  in  useful  work. 


CHAPTEE  XIII. 

Establishm:ent  and  Obganization  of  Montkose  AcADEisrr.  — Its  Peq-- 

GKESS    AND    IXFLUEXCE. — SuPPLY    OF   KeLIGIOUS    DESTITUTIONS. 

Difficulties. 

I  HAD  kept  in  view,  as  one  of  the  objects  of  oui'  removal 
to  Mississippi,  the  enterprise  of  estabhshing  an  indepen- 
dent Academy,  or  High  School  for  boyft  and  young  men. 
As  I  was  "unknown  to  fame,"  and  the  location  was  appar- 
ently as  unfavorable  for  such  an  institution  as  could  be  well 
conceived,  the  fu'st  step  toward  such  an  object  was  ob\iously 
to  make  efforts  for  the  pubHcation  of  the  existence  of  the' 
school.  Preliminary  arrangements  were  in  progress  for 
this  purpose  during  the  first  j^ear  of  our  residence  there,  by 
selecting  a  spot  for  the  location,  and  advertising  for  patro- 
nage from  abroad,  as  success  in  such  an  undertaking  could 
not  be  expected  from  the  immediate  neighborhood.  All 
things  having  been  thus  made  ready,  in  the  month  of  Jan- 
uary, or  thereaboutsyJL  began  operations  with  only  nine  pu- 
pils. 

It  was  a  singular  school  in  many  respects.  It  was  singu- 
lar in  its  location,  in  the  mid  woods,  far  from  the  centres  of  in- 
telligence and  refinement.  Of  elements  to  build  upon,  it 
may  be  said  to  have  been  utterly  destitute.  It  was  with- 
out a  board  of  trustees,  or  a  doUar  of  endowment,  or  any 
extensive  apparatus,  or  library  rich  in  the  treasui'es  of 
learning,  or  imposing  brick  structures  for  its  future  opera- 
tions. But  there  was  only  the  determination  in  the  heart 
of  one  man,  that  by  God's  blessing  a  Christian  institution 
should  be  ^^lanted  side  by  side  with  the  chui'ch,  where  the 
rising  youth  of  the  land  should  be  trained  for  earthly  use- 

241 


242  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

fulness  and  for  tlie  kingdom  of  heaven.     These  motives, 
with  others,  stimulated  my  efforts  in  this  enterprise,  and  I 
trust  I  may  add  T\'ithout  boastfulness,  that  in  the  subse- 
quent history  of  the  school  these  expectations  were  in  some 
degree  realized.     Let  me  particularize  a  httle.     The  school 
"was  opened  in  a  log  building,  which  was  used  also  for  preach- 
ing pm-poses,  and  located  on  a  gentle  eminence,  on  the  high- 
way of  travel,  distant  two  miles  from  my  residence,  in  the 
midst  of  an  extensive  pine  forest.     At  the  foot  of  the  slight 
hill  on  which  the  building  stood,  and  sufficient!}^  near  it, 
gushed  forth  a  perennial  spring  of  clear,  chalybeate  water. 
The  house  was  sufficiently  large  to  accommodate  a  good 
audience  on  the  Sabbath,  and  was  ample  for  all  school  pur- 
poses at  first.     But  as  the   patronage  of  the  school  was 
steadily  increasing,  a  very  large  log-house  was  erected  close 
to  this  first  building,  and  a  second  room  was  also  erected  on 
the  other  side  of  the  larger  house.     This  large  house  was 
designed  for  the  accommodation  of  a  congregation  on  the 
Sabbath,  and  in  it  the  students  assembled  as  a  chapel  for 
morning  and  evening  prayer.     This  arrangement  continued 
until  the  school  had  acquired  such  reputation  as  not  onl}^ 
induced  parents  from  abroad  to  send  their  children  for  in- 
struction, but  others  made  settlements  for  the  benefit  of 
education.     In  process  of  time  we  were  so  encouraged  by 
the  prosperity  of  the   school    and  the  neighborhood  as  to 
erect,  by  subscription,  an  excellent  two-story  frame  build- 
ing, to  serve  as  a  church  and  as  an  assembly  hall  for  Com- 
mencement exercises.     The  want  of  funds  caused  a  suspen- 
sion of  work  on  the  building,  after  it  had  been  covered  and 
weather-boarded,  but  it  "was  afterwards  comjoleted  by  my 
successor,  who  settled  at  Montrose,  and  endeavored,  unsuc- 
cessfully, to  revive  the  school.     During  the  period  of  my 
residence  there  the  school  prospered,  and  drew  its  patronage 
from  western  Alabama,  eastern  Mississippi ;  from  Meridian, 
Brandon,  Jackson,   and  Vicksburg.     The  average  attend- 


Montrose  Academy.  243 

ance,  as  I  now  remember,  was  seventy-five,  the  majority 
from  abroad.  The  course  of  study  covered  all  the  English 
branches,  together  with  the  Classics  and  Mathematics,  in- 
cluding Algebra,  Geometry,  Trigonometry,  Mensui'ation, 
Navigation,  and  Siu'veying,  to  the  extent  of  the  requisites 
for  admission  into  the  Junior  Class  in  our  Colleges  and  Uni- 
versities. I  also  induced  the  more  advanced  students  to 
build  httle  stud^^-houses  on  the  adjacent  campus  around  the 
main  building.  Besides  the  course  of  study  above  outhned, 
a  large  element  of  Christian  instruction  was  infused  into  the 
course.  Every  student  was  entered  into  a  Bible  Class,  and 
required  to  recite  on  Sabbath  in  the  church,  and  to  attend 
preaching  also.  The  school  was  daily  opened  and  closed 
with  25i*ayer,  and  attendance  upon  this  exercise  was  compul- 
sory. Frequent  lectures  were  delivered  to  the  student-body 
assembled  on  these  occasions,  in  which  I  endeavored  to  pre- 
sent before  their  minds  the  rational  expectation  of  their 
friends  in  regard  to  their  future  achievement  of  a  noble 
life.  I  often  quoted  to  theui  the  words  of  Arnold  of  Rugby, 
that  it  was  not  "  necessary  that  the  school  should  consist  of 
thirty,  fifty,  or  one  hundred  students,  but  that  it  should  be 
composed  of  Christian  gentlemen."  It  is  true,  no  doubt, 
that  of  the  hundreds  of  students  who  from  time  to  time 
came  to  that  school  ignorant  and  vicious,  a  proportion  may 
have  left  having  received  little  benefit ;  yet  I  am  very  thank- 
ful to  be  able  to  say,  that  many  who  came  in  comparative 
ignorance  and  with  unsettled  morals,  left  infinitely  benefited. 
Students  were  there  prepared  for  Oakland  College  and  for 
the  University  of  Mississippi,  who  were  graduated  with  dis- 
tinction. Others  became  ministers  of  the  gospel,  settling 
ia  Louisiana  and  Texas,  and  all  were  honored  and  beloved 
members  of  their  respective  Presbyteries.  It  is  not  too 
much,  moreover,  to  claim,  as  a  very  important  collateral 
benefit  resulting  from  the  estabhshment  of  Montrose  Acad- 
emy, that  its  success  taught  the  people  of  the  region  around 


244  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

just  what  could  be  accomplished  by  persistent  individual 
effort  and  enterprise.  This  was  the  first  academy  of  the 
kind  ever  organized  in  Eastern  Mississippi,  and  after  a  few 
rears  similar  schools  sprang  into  existence  all  over  that 
countiy.  Our  annual  exhibitions  and  examinations  were 
attended  by  immense  crowds,  coming  not  only  from  the  im- 
mediate vicinity,  but  from  distant  parts  of  the  State.  On 
these  occasions  distinguished  gentlemen  from  abroad  came, 
on  invitation,  and  delivered  annually  eloquent  addresses, 
and  the  school  reached  a  very  high  reputation  throughout 
the  land. 

To  illustrate  the  animus  of  this  school  two  incidents  may 
be  related.  AVhile  in  its  most  flourishing  state,  a  meeting  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Tombeckbee  was  held  at  Montrose  church, 
and  a  gracious  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  followed  the  exer- 
cises. Deep  impressions  were  made  upon  the  students,  and 
there  were  quite  a  nmnber  who  made  profession  of  religion. 
Of  this  number  I  recall  one  who,  although  of  a  Baptist 
famih',  was  desirous  of  joining  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
I  assured  him  that  there  could  be  but  one  objection  to  his 
j)roposal,  viz. :  that  it  might  not  be  agreeable  to  his  parents, 
and  advised  him  to  consult  them,  and  take  the  coui'se  they 
might  suggest.  This  he  did,  and  as  they  preferred  that 
he  should  become  a  member  of  the  same  church  with  them- 
selves, it  was  settled  agreeably.  These  parents  were  par- 
ticularly gratiiied  at  the  course  pursued,  and  they  proved  to 
be  very  warm  friends  of  the  school. 

The  other  incident  w^as  as  follows:  The  only  objection 
ever  made  to  the  regulation  that  every  student  must  stud}^ 
the  Bible,  proceeded  from  a  gentleman  of  Alabama,  who 
made  it  a  condition  of  his  patronage,  that  his  son  should  be 
excused  from  this  rule.  On  my  declining  to  accede  to  his 
j)roposal  he  withdi'ew  his  son.  My  corps  of  assistant  in- 
structors in  this  school  were,  at  various  times,  Mr.  Joseph 
Denison,  Mr.  Henry  Sturges,  and  Mr.  J.  Cowart.     The  fii'st 


Religious  Influence.  245 

of  these  gentlemen  was  a  Nova  Scotian,  I  tliink,  a  most  ex- 
cellent teacher  in  the  English  department ;  the  second  was 
a  graduate  of  Princeton  College;  the  third  was  a  graduate 
of  Oakland.  I  am  imable  to  give  the  subsequent  history  of 
any  one  of  them.  It  will  be  admitted  that  the  number  of 
teachers  was  quite  sufficient  to  meet  the  duties  required, 
without  overburdening  our  strength,  and  to  avoid  neglect  or 
injustice  to  the  classes  by  attempting  to  instruct  too  many 
at  once.  In  a  word,  we  endeavored  to  do  our  work  faith- 
fully and  conscientiously. 

Within  two  years  after  our  settlement  at  this  place,  Dr. 
Gray  received  a  call  from  the  church  at  Vicksburg,  and  re- 
moved to  that  city  in  1843.  This  induced  a  change  in  my 
movements,  so  far  as  to  divide  my  j^reaching  labors  between 
Montrose  and  Mt.  Moriah  churches,  giving  to  each  two  Sab- 
baths in  the  month,  and  this  arrangement  continued  in 
force  for  the  remaining  period  of  my  residence  there.  Yet 
such  was  the  great  destitution  of  rehgious  privileges 
throughout  that  entire  region,  as  to  require  my  services  fre- 
quently in  ^dsiting  vacant  churches,  and  preaching  as  much 
as  my  engagements  would  admit.  For  a  part  of  this  time, 
two  young  brethren,  Messrs.  Gilchrist,  of  the  Northwest, 
and  Anderson,  of  South  Carolina,  were  engaged  to  supply 
those  vacancies,  but  they  did  not  remain  very  long,  as  there 
was  little  to  encourage  them.  Thus  my  labors  in  those 
years,  both  in  the  pulpit  and  in  the  school-room,  were  not 
scant  nor  light,  left  alone  as  to  human  aid.  I  led  a  life  of 
toil,  and  was  content  to  yield  myself  to  the  inevitable  priva- 
tions of  this  condition  of  things,  mmgled  as  it  was  with 
many  blessings.  Yet  I  have  reason  to  doubt  whether  I  have 
ever,  in  later  years,  and  in  more  eligible  and  elevated  posi- 
tions, been  instrumental  in  the  hands  of  God  of  accomplish- 
ing more  for  the  benefit  of  my  fellowmen  than  in  that  land 
of  destitution. 


CHAPTER  Xiy. 

MOEE    SOEEOW. — InCOKPOKATION    OP    THE   BOAKD    OF    TeUSTEES    OF    THE 

Univeksity  of  the  State. — Proceedings  of  the  Boaed. — Coming 
Events  Foreshadowed. 

MATTERS  wore  on  in  this  way  without  essential  modifi- 
cation until  the  year  1848,  which  closed  my  term  of 
public  service  in  the  eastern  part  of  Mississi^^pi.  I  recur, 
however,  to  the  period  intervening  between  1843  and  1848^ 
to  relate  events  which  occurred  at  intervals  during  the  pass- 
ing of  those  five  years. 

Our  little  circle  had  been  added  to  by  the  arrival,  on  Sep- 
tember 28,  1842,  of  a  beautiful  little  boy,  to  whom  his 
mother  gave  the  name  John  Newton.  It  pleased  our 
heavenly  Father  to  permit  us  the  enjoj^ment  of  his  infant 
life  for  four  short  j-ears,  when  He  took  him  to  Himself,  and 
so  again,  after  the  lapse  of  seven  years  of  exemption,  our 
home  was  shrouded  in  deep  gloom.  The  only  other  family 
events  to  be  noted  in  this  interval  are  the  addition  of  two 
other  boys,  George  Robertson,  in  1844,  and  John  Gray,  in 
1847.  I  pass  on  again  to  matters  of  public  interest.  In 
1843  the  Senate  of  Mississippi  proceeded  to  incorporate  the 
University  by  chartering  the  Board  of  Trustees.  In  the  se- 
lection of  the  members  of  the  Board,  besides  the  fancied  or 
real  possession  of  some  fitness  for  the  office,  the  Senate  was 
guided  by  what  was  regarded  as  good  policy,  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  trustees  from  various  sections  of  the  State  as 
representatives  of  the  people  on  the  Board,  so  that  the  en- 
tire body  of  the  citizens  of  the  State  might  become  more 
interested  in  the  University.  In  connection  with  this  action 
of  the  Senate,  let  me  call  attention  to  what  seemed  to  me  a 

246 


The  University  of  Mississippi.  247 

-co-incident  event  of  private  interest,  though  of  a  public  na- 
ture. On  a  certain  day,  as  I  stood  in  the  doorway  of  the 
Academy  building,  I  observed  the  Hon.  Simeon  E.  Adams, 
the  senator  from  the  county  of  Jasper,  passing,  on  his  re- 
turn home  after  the  adjournment  of  the  Senate.  Being  a 
personal  friend,  he  called  and  informed  me  that  the  Senate 
had  appointed  me  a  trustee  of  the  University,  to  represent 
the  eastern  part  of  the  State.  This  information  at  once  re- 
vived the  latent  incident  of  the  Mobile  reading  room,  which 
occui-red  in  1841,  and  which  I  had  not  brought  up  before 
my  mind  for  two  years.  It  seemed  a  sort  of  confirmation 
of  my  mental  vision  foreshadowing  the  anticipated  connec- 
tion of  myself  with  the  University.  The  simple  fact  of  my 
having  received  this  appointment,  wholly  imexpected,  wholly 
unsolicited  by  me,  without  the  slightest  effort  on  my  part,, 
seemed  to  me  a  verification  of  the  fleeting  vision  which 
passed  before  my  mind  at  the  time  referred  to.  I  felt  now 
that  I  was  approaching  something  more  eligible  than  my 
existiuGf  environments  woiild  have  warranted,  and  that  this 
was  evidently  the  first  step  in  my  onward  progress  toward 
the  goal  of  my  aspirations.  No  one  who  studies  and  reads 
carefully  the  dealings  of  divine  Providence  in  oiu'  hves  can, 
doubt  for  a  moment  that  He  sometimes — nay,  if  we  were 
inteUigent  observers,  always — permits  "  coming  events  to 
cast  their  shadows  before."  I  certainly  so  interpreted 
this  coincidence.  The  event  w^hich  I  saw  foreshadowed  or 
embodied  very  clearly  before  me  then  was  that  I  should  one 
day  occupy  a  position  in  the  Faculty  of  the  University.  Re- 
viewing the  past  now,  after  facts  have  been  made  known, 
and  combining  the  various  cotemporary  points  of  my  history 
then  transpiring,  it  seems  to  me  that  every  obstacle  that 
might  have  prevented  this  issue  was  providentially  removed. 
Calls  for  my  services  as  a  teacher  were  laid  before  me  at 
that  time,  one  to  a  professorship  in  AVashington  College, 
Tenn.,  and  the  other  to  a  Presbyterial  Academy  in  Alabama; 


248  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D  ,  LL.  D. 

T^ut  althougli  pressed  upon  me  from  respectable  sources,  cir- 
cumstances combined  to  prevent  my  consideration  of  them 
with  any  view  to  acceptance.  I  even  had  a  corresj)ondence 
with  a  very  prominent  minister  of  Alabama  upon  the  subject 
of  a  candidacy  for  a  chair  in  Oglethorpe  University,  and  this 
was,  in  my  estimation,  a  very  attractive  position.  But  as  I 
was  not  prepared  to  allow  my  name  to  go  before  the  Synod 
of  Alabama  as  a  candidate,  and  as  that  body  would  not  elect 
on  an  uncertainty,  I  was  not  elected,  although  I  received  a 
considerable  vote.  So  I  remained  in  control  of  Montrose 
Academy,  as  seemed  to  be  the  will  of  Providence.  In  the 
meantime,  the  trustees  met  and  organized  themselves  for 
the  work  before  them.  I  was  not  present  at  that  meeting ; 
but  subsequently  other  meetings  were  held  to  arrange  pre- 
liminaries. I  received  official  notice  that  such  a  meeting 
would  be  held  in  Oxford  in  April,  1847,  and  although  my 
residence  was  distant  from  that  place  some  two  hundred  miles 
or  more,  without  any  such  conveniences  as  railroad  or  even 
mail-coach  transportation,  I  resolved  to  attend.  I  performed 
the  entire  journey  on  horseback,  and  my  long  ride  was  ac- 
compHshed,  in  great  measure,  alone,  through  a  wild  and 
desolate  region  of  country.  This  was  my  first  attendance 
upon  the  deliberations  of  the  Board  after  my  appointment 
as  a  trustee.  I  was  the  bearer  of  letters  of  introduction  to 
gentlemen  of  Oxford,  jind  among  them  I  met  a  cordial  wel- 
come from  Dr.  Z.  Conkey,  an  elder  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  with  whom  I  made  my  temporarj^  abode. 

The  subjects  of  business  which  came  before  the  Board 
were  many  details  not  needful  to  record,  but  I  allude  to 
only  one  now:  the  course  of  instruction  to  be  pursued. 
I  was  appointed  chairman  of  a  committee  to  draw  up  a  re- 
port on  that  subject,  to  be  presented  at  a  subsequent  meet- 
ing of  the  Board.  Here  I  met  for  the  first  time  those  trus- 
tees of  the  Universit}^  present  at  that  meetin.q-.  Among 
them  were  Hon.  Jacob  Thompson,  member  of  Congress  for 


Ordained  to  the  Ministry.  249 

■many  years;  Col.  Thos.  H.  Williams,  who  had  been  the 
bond-paying  Democratic  candidate  for  Governor  in  the  days 
of  repudiation ;  Col.  Brown  and  Judge  Howry,  and  other 
names  not  now  remembered.  I  remained  until  after  the 
Sabbath,  and  preached  twice  in  the  Presbj-terian  church, 
and  thus  made  my  first  appearance  in  the  place  which  then, 
all  unknown  to  us,  was  to  be  my  home  during  eighteen  j'ears 
of  the  future.  I  omitted  to  state  at  the  proper  time,  that  at 
a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Tombeckbee,  in  Columbus, 
Miss.,  on  the  23d  of  October,  1843,  I  was  set  apart  to  the 
full  W' ork  of  the  gospel  ministry ;  so  that  in  my  case  two 
years  had  been  spent  in  study  as  a  candidate,  and  two  j-ears 
in  preaching  as  a  licentiate,  or  probationer,  for  the  minis- 
try. My  ordination  sermon  was  preached  before  the  Pres- 
bytery on  the  text,  Eoman  v.  1.;  the  doctrine  discussed 
being  "  Justification  by  Faith."  I  attended  another  meet- 
ing of  the  Board  as  a  member  in  the  following  January, 
1848,  in  Jackson,  during  the  session  of  the  Legislature. 
By  this  time  progress  had  been  made  in  ^preparation  for  the 
opening  of  the  institution,  but  still  much  remained  to  be 
done.  On  that  occasion  there  were  present  of  the  Board, 
Hon.  Wm.  L.  Sharkey,  the  most  distinguished  jurist  of  the 
State;  Judges  E.  C.  Wilkinson  and  Pinckney  Smith,  Hon. 
Isaac  N.  Davis,  and  some  others.  The  report  of  the  pre- 
viously ajopointed  Committee  on  the  Course  of  Study  being 
in  order,  and  no  member  of  that  committee  except  myself 
being  present,  Messrs.  Smith  and  Wilkinson  were  placed  on 
that  committee  to  act  with  me.  I  had  already,  durinc-  the 
interval  of  the  meetings  of  the  Board,  prepared  carefully 
this  report,  and  had  it  ready  for  action  by  the  Board.  I 
called  the  newly  appointed  committee  together  that  I  might 
submit  it  to  their  consideration  previous  to  its  final  discus- 
sion. On  my  reading  it  to  this  committee,  verj'  strenuous 
objections  were  offered  by  Judge  Wilkinson  to  the  adop- 
tion   of    the    "Evidences  of  Chi'istianity ''   as  one  of   the 


250  '      John  N.  "Waddill,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

studies  of  the  curriculum.  AVith  a  mere  statement  of  the 
fact  that  he  objected  to  this  item  of  the  report,  he  proposed 
to  postpone  the  further  discussion  of  the  subject  until  it 
should  come  before  the  Board.  I  read  it  the  next  day  in 
full  meeting,  and  at  once  Judge  AVilkinson  attacked  that 
particular  point,  and  we  discussed  the  subject  at  some 
length,  without  reaching  any  decision,  and  the  further  de- 
bate was  arrested,  being  placed  on  docket  for  consideration 
at  the  next  meeting,  to  be  held  at  Oxford  in  July  follo^sdng. 
It  was  also  determined  that,  at  that  meeting,  the  Board 
should  proceed  to  the  election  of  a  Faculty,  and  a  time 
should  be  set  for  the  regular  opening  of  the  University,  and 
the  installation  of  the  officers. 

I  decided  in  my  own  mind,  after  this  meeting,  to  become 
a  candidate  for  the  Professorship  of  Ancient  Languages, 
and,  accordingly,  I  tendered  my  resignation  as  a  trustee. 
This  was  the  last  meeting  of  the  Board  at  which  I  was 
present  as  a  trustee.  I  resumed  the  duties  of  the  Academy 
after  the  adjournment  of  the  Board,  and  continued  to  teach 
and  preach  as  usual  until  I  was  laid  aside  by  a  tedious  ill- 
ness, which,  for  the  time,  disabled  me.  I  dismissed  the 
students  somewhat  in  advance  of  the  summer  vacation,  on 
this  account.  But  the  progress  of  events  during  the  season 
brought  about  changes  which  induced  me  to  close  my  enter- 
prise of  teaching  and  preaching  at  Montrose,  never  to  be- 
there  resumed. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Election  of  the  Facitltt  of  the  Uxiyeksity. —Initiatory  Difficttl- 
TiES.— Farewell  Sermons. —Removal  to  Oxford,  and  Formal 
Opening. 

MY  liealth  continued  feeble,  so  that  I  was  unable  to  fill 
my  23ulpit  from  the  3rd  of  June  to  the  16th  of  July. 
After  that  I  resumed  preaching,  and  provided  service  for  the 
churches  to  the  best  of  my  abihty.     In  the  meantime  the 
Board  of  Trustees  convened  in  Oxford,  according  to  appoint- 
ment, for  the  election  of  a  Faculty.     As  I  was  now  a  de- 
clared candidate  for  a  chair,  I  had  made  all  arrangements 
pursuant  to  the  presentation  of  my  appHcation.     I  had  pro- 
vided myself  with  letters  of  endorsement  from    Rev.   Dr. 
Church,  President  of  the  University  of  Georgia,  who  had  been 
Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Astronomy  at  the  time  of  my 
membership  of  that  institution,  and  at  my  graduation,  in 
1829.     I  also  had  the  favor  of  letters  commendatory  from 
Hon.  "William  L.  Sharkey  and  Rev.  L.  J.  Halsey,  D.  D.,  of 
Jackson,  Miss.     These,  with  one  other   similar  document 
from  a  friend,  constituting  my  credentials,  were  transmitted 
to  Col.  Williams,  Secretary  of  the  Board,  and  I  made  all  my 
preparations  to  visit  Oxford,  and  to  be  present  during  the 
election.     I  had  even  gone  so  far  as  to  leave  home  on  the 
journey,  but  I  was  again  taken  too  ill  to  proceed,  and  re- 
turned home. 

The  Board  held  their  meeting,  and  engaged  in  the  im- 
portant business  of  filling  the  presidency  and  the  various 
professorships,  according  to  pubHshed  advertisement  in  the 
journals  of  the  State.  It  proved  to  be  a  rather  stormy 
meeting.     There  were  three  chairs  to  be  filled  besides  that 

251 


252  JoHx  N.  AVaddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

of  President.  I  was  informed  by  some  one  jDresent  on  the 
occasion  that  the  names  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  or 
more  candidates  were  presented  for  these  four  offices,  viz. : 
For  President,  there  were  seventeen  apphcants :  for  Chem- 
istry and  Natural  Philosophy,  thirty -fve  ;  for  Mathematics 
and  Astronomy, /or ^y/-/>e  oy  fifty,  and  for  the  Ancient  Lan- 
guages, enough  additional  candidates  to  make  the  above 
sum  total. 

The  discussion  of  two  preliminary  principles  was  insisted 
upon  by  Judge  E.  C.  Wilkinson,  viz.,  that  the  Evidences  of 
Christianity  should  be  excluded  from  the  course  of  study, 
and,  as  an  accompanying  requisite  to  the  full  exclusion  of 
this  branch  of  study,  no  minister  of  the  gospel  of  any  de- 
nomination should  ever  be  appointed  to  a  chair  in  the  Fac- 
ulty. In  these  two  positions  he  was  supported  by  another 
trustee,  an  avowed  infidel,  who,  not  being  present,  had  dis- 
cussed them  in  a  letter  of  fifteen  pages,  addressed  to  the 
Board,  denouncing  the  whole  Christian  system,  and  resign- 
ing his  seat  on  the  Board.  The  ground  of  opposition  to  the 
Christian  system  and  to  Christian  ministers  was  "  the 
assumption  that  the  Evidences  could  not  be  taught  without 
embodying  the  distinctive  tenets  of  some  one  of  the  churches 
of  the  land,  and  that  every  minister  would  inevitably  teach 
his  own  creed."  Fui'thermore,  it  was  argued  by  these  gen- 
tlemen, that  as  the  University  was  the  property  of  the  State, 
and  not  of  any  sect  or  party,  the  people  of  all  descrij^tions 
had  a  right  to  forbid  any  propagation  of  religion  that  would 
not  be  universally  acceptable.  "  It  was  manifestly  improper 
that  such  things  should  be  permitted,  and  this  would  be 
unavoidable  should  ministers  of  the  gospel  be  eligible  to 
professorships,  or  should  the  Evidences  of  Christianity  form 
part  of  the  course  of  study." 

I  have  in  my  possession,  to  this  day,  a  letter  from  one  of 
the  wisest  and  most  influential,  and  most  devoted  members 
of  the  Board,  who  participated  in  this  election,  bearing  date 


The  University  of  Mississippi.  255 

July  19,  1848,  stating  the  following"  facts:  "One  member 
of  the  Board  resigned  because  the  '  Evidences  of  Chris- 
tianity '  formed  part  of  the  curriculum,  and  in  his  letter  of 
resignation  made  a  long  and  heavy  assault  upon  rehgion." 
Again  he  adds,  "Another  trustee  followed  this  letter  "with 
an  assault  upon  the  ministry." 

Such  was  one  of  the  difficulties  which  then  j)ressed  upon 
the  University  in  its  infanc3\  Like  all  great  enterprises, 
under  similar  circumstances,  this  institution  has  been  beset, 
at  intervals,  with  difficulties  thi'ough  its  entire  career.  The 
foregoing  discussion  w^as  held  in  public,  and  many  of  the 
influential  citizens  of  the  town,  as  well  as  of  the  surround- 
ing country,  were  present  and  heard  the  debate.  Among 
them  were  members  of  the  various  Christian  churches,  who 
viewed  the  entire  meeting  and  the  discussion  with  senti- 
ments of  the  strongest  disapproval,  and  such  was  the  indig- 
nation aroused  in  the  community,  as  to  result  in  a  decided 
re- action  before  the  close  of  the  election.  There  can  be 
no  doubt,  however,  that  the  assaults  referred  to  above  had 
exerted  some  influence  upon  the  minds  of  members  of  the 
Board,  although  they  were  not  successful  to  the  extent  de- 
signed, and  hoped  for,  by  those  who  made  them.  Thej- 
proceeded  with  the  election,  and  balloting  in  great  earnest- 
ness continued  day  after  day  until  Friday,  with  interrup- 
tions occasionally  for  interchange  of  views.  Col.  WiUiams, 
Secretary  of  the  Board,  the  friend  to  whom  I  had  intrusted 
my  credentials,  wrote  to  me  afterward,  giving  me  the  state- 
ment that  before  the  day  arrived  for  the  election  of  a  Pro- 
fessor of  the  Ancient  Languages,  for  which  chair  I  was  an 
applicant,  he  had,  by  some  means,  lost  my  papers,  and  his 
only  reliance  for  my  success  was  personal  advocacy  of  my 
claims.  The  first  election  was,  of  course,  for  the  office  of 
President,  for  which  there  were  quite  a  number  of  candidates. 
I  know  the  names  of  but  two,  and  of  these  only  as  being  the 
two  most  prominent  before  the  Board.     These  were  Hon» 


254  John  N.  ^yADDEL,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

A.  B.  Longstreet,  once  so  eminent  in  Georgia,  as  a  jurist 
and  a  writer,  an  editor  of  an  influential  political  journal, 
and  President  of  the  Emory  College  at  Oxford,  who  had 
also  become  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
In  his  palmy  days  in  his  own  State  I  regarded  him  as 
among  the  most  eloquent  orators  I  ever  heard.  I  know, 
however,  that  he  was  not  a  candidate  for  the  office  on  this 
occasion,  and  was  voted  for  by  his  friends  from  their  con- 
viction of  his  preeminent  qualifications.  The  fact  of  his 
ministerial  character,  it  was  understood  at  the  time,  defeated 
liim.  His  successful  oj^ponent  was  George  F.  Holmes,  then 
Professor  in  the  College  of  ^Yilliam  and  Mary,  in  Virginia. 
Mr.  Holmes  was  furnished  with  most  flattering  testimonials 
of  accomplished  scholarship,  and  has  held  a  chair  of  import- 
ance since  in  the  Faculty  of  the  University  of  Virginia.  He 
was  not  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  After  some  distinct  bal- 
lotings  he  was  elected.  He  was  not  known  to  any  of  the 
Board,  and,  at  this  time,  he  was  about  twenty-eight  years  of 
age.     He  was  not  present  on  the  occasion. 

The  second  professorship  filled  was  that  of  Mathematics 
and  Astronomy.  The  Board,  by  a  majority,  out  of  many 
opponents,  elected  Albert  Taylor  Bledsoe,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  at  the  time  of  his  election  a  citizen  of  Spring- 
field, 111.  He  was  a  graduate  of  West  Point  Military 
Academy.  His  age  was  thirty-eight.  He  was  j)i'esent. 
The  Board  then  proceeded  to  select  an  incumbent  for  the 
chair  of  Chemistry  and  Natural  Philosox^hy.  After  several 
ballotings  the  choice  fell  upon  Professor  John  Milliugton. 
He  was  also  at  the  time  a  Professor  in  William  and  Mary 
College.  He  was  far  advanced  in  life,  but  eminent  for  scien- 
tific attainments,  and  universally  beloved  for  his  amiable 
traits. 

The  fourth  election,  which  did  not  occur  until  Friday,  was 
decided,  on  first  ballot,  in  favor  of  myself,  for  the  chair  of 
Ancient  Languages.     I  was  then  residing  in  Jasper  county. 


Election  to  Professorship.  255 

Miss,,  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  and  a  graduate  of  the 
TJniversity  of  Georgia.  I  was,  at  the  time  of  my  election, 
in  my  thirty- seventh  year.  It  was  the  only  office  for  which 
I  had  ever  been  a  candidate  before,  and  I  am  thankful  to  be 
able  to  say  that  I  have  never  presented  my  name  formally  as  a 
candidate  for  any  office  at  any  subsequent  period  of  m}'  life. 
I  will  dismiss  this  topic  just  now  for  the  sake  of  explain- 
ing a  matter  connected  with  my  election.  "WTien  I  received 
from  the  secretary  of  the  Board,  Col.  WiUiams,  the  official 
notification  of  my  election,  I  learned  that  the  title  of  the 
chair  I  was  expected  to  fill  was  "  Professor  of  Greek,  Latin, 
Hebrew,  French,  German,  and  Spanish !  "  No  sooner  had 
I  read  this  statement  than  I  at  once  decided  to  decline  the 
office,  and  I  wrote  to  the  secretary  to  that  effect,  and  asked 
an  explanation.  In  his  reply,  he  wrote  that  I  would  not  be 
€xpected  to  give  instruction  in  any  languages  except  Greek 
and  Latin.  He  gave  as  the  reason  for  the  addition  of  the 
other  names  to  the  title  of  the  professorship  that  the  Board 
desired  to  have  it  publicly  understood  that  a  Department  of 
Language  was  contemplated  in  the  system  of  instruction 
when  complete,  but  that  the  amount  of  available  means  at 
the  control  of  the  UniTersity  was  as  yet  inadequate  to  admit 
of  such  an  extension.  Furthermore,  they  wished  me  to  un- 
derstand that  I  would  be  expected  and  required  to  fill  only 
that  part  of  this  chair  that  called  for  the  ancient  languages 
of  Greek  and  Latin.  This  being  understood,  I  immediately 
began  my  preparations  for  removal  from  Montrose,  and  for 
making  my  future  field  of  labor  in  the  University,  and  my 
home  in  Oxford.  One  of  my  first  cares  in  leaving  that  re- 
gion of  country  was  to  endeavor  to  obtain  the  services  of 
some  approved  and  devoted  minister  for  the  churches  I  was 
about  to  leave.  I  secured  the  presence  of  Eev.  Joseph  B. 
Adams,  who  had  been  long  known  to  me  as  a  minister  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  a  resiDCcted  member  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Tuskaloosa,  to  assist  me  at  a  communion  meeting 


25G  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D, 

at  the  cliurch  of  Montrose.  The  congregation  were  pleased 
with  him,  and  in  due  time  he  was  invited  to  that  and  to 
some  other  church.  He  came,  and  I  felt  glad  and  thankful 
that  this  destitute  and  thinty-settled  part  of  the  country 
would  still  be  supplied  with  the  preaching  of  the  gosj^el.  I 
paid  farewell  visits  to  several  of  those  more  distant  points  to 
which  I  had  from  time  to  time  been  giving  my  services  dur- 
ing my  residence  there.  It  is  to  me  a  gratifj^ng  fact  that 
the  churches  I  had  been  supj^l^ang  have  never  been  entirely 
vacant  since  I  left  them,  although  they  were,  in  regard  to 
this  world's  goods,  not  by  any  means  rich.  I  knew 
that  there  were  i)eople  of  God  there,  "rich  in  faith,  and 
heu-s  of  the  kingdom."  I  preached  farewell  sermons  to  the 
white  members  of  Montrose  church,  and  a  separate  one  to 
the  colored  iDCOj^le.  I  also  took  leave  in  the  same  way  of 
Mount  Moriah  church  on  the  last  Sabbaths  of  my  abode  in 
Jasper  county.  Pre^dous  to  my  departure  I  executed  to  the- 
elders  of  the  Montrose  church,  as  trustees,  a  title-deed  to 
the  eighty  acres  of  land  on  which  the  chui'ch  and  Academy 
buildings  had  been  erected,  conditioned  upon  its  being  -pre- 
served  for  the  benefit  and  use  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
forever,  in  connection  with  the  Old  School  General  Assembly. 


I 


CHAPTEK  XVI. 

General  Educational  History  of  Mississippi. 
PROPOSE  to  i^ause  at  this  i^oint,  and  suspend  the  on- 
ward course  of  the  narrative  in  order  to  introduce  an 
account  of  the  earher  movements  of  the  State  of  Mississippi 
in  the  great  work  of  education.  This  is  appropriate  to  my 
relation  to  the  subject  at  the  time  now  undergoing  review, 
as  I  was  a  citizen  of  the  State,  and  not  only  so,  but  a  prac- 
tical educator  also,  and,  in  addition  to  these  two  particulars, 
I  was  for  eighteen  years  afterwards  connected  with  the 
State  University. 

The  general  remark  may  be  made,  by  way  of  introduc- 
tion, that  among  the  matters  entitled  to  the  serious  consid- 
eration of  a  new  State,  the  education  of  her  peo2:>le  stands 
in  the  front  rank  of  importance.     It  is  not  more  true  of 
Mississippi,  however,  than  of  other  States  at  their  organiza- 
tion, that  comparatively  little  is  accomplished  in  this  grand 
department  of  human  progress,  compared  with  what  is  done 
in  those  interests  that  are  purely  material.     It  may  proba- 
bly be  attributable  in  some  measure  to  the  character  of  our 
people,  always  energetic  and  enterprising  in  the  direction  of 
that  which  is  practically  progressive,  and  which  addresses 
itself  to  their  more  palpable  interests.     We  are  not  a  staid,, 
not  strictly  a  conservative  people.     While  older  nations  look 
well  to  the  foundations  upon  which  to  erect  their  national 
enterj)rises,  and  are  unwilling  to  move  until  every  point  in 
their  future  progress  is  outhned  and  thoroughly  matured 
and  fixed,  based  upon  solid  and  substantial  supports,  the 
American  rushes  to  conclusions  and  grasps  after  results, 
little  recking  what  is  behind  him,  and  as  little  caring  for  in- 

257 


258  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

tervening  opposition.  The  subduing  of  the  forests  and  re- 
ducinof  of  the  soil  to  cultivation,  so  as  to  render  the  country 
habitable,  and  to  prepare  the  way  for  human  civilization, 
are  the  objects  first  contemplated  by  the  American  settler 
of  new  regions.  The  j)ioneers  of  Mississippi  formed  no  ex- 
ception to  this  rule.  Yet  there  remain  on  record  abundant 
evidences  of  the  fact  that,  at  a  very  early  period  after  the 
country  came  into  possession  of  the  United  States,  a  disposi- 
tion to  encourage  education  was  developed  among  the  peo- 
ple of  the  territory.  In  the  year  1802  Jefferson  College, 
near  Natchez,  located  at  ^Yashington,  was  founded,  and  in 
1803  an  entire  township  of  land  was  granted  by  Congress 
for  its  support.  In  1812  Congress  jmssed  an  act  for  the 
location  of  those  lands.  In  1820,  three  years  after  the  ad- 
mission of  the  State  into  the  Union,  the  Legislature  of  Mis- 
sissij^pi  granted  to  the  College  a  loan  of  $4,000.  It  has 
been  a  useful  institution,  but  has  never  attained  very  high 
position  as  a  College.  The  record  of  the  State,  however,  is 
honorable,  since  in  the  early  period  of  her  organized  exist- 
ence, from  1798  to  1848,  there  had  been  established  one 
hundred  and  ten  institutions  of  learning,  under  the  various 
names  of  Universities,  Colleges,  Academies,  and  Schools,  ex- 
clusive of  schools  founded  upon  the  sixteenth  sections  of 
public  lands,  proving  that  an  entire  neglect  of  the  educa- 
tional wants  of  the  people  has  not  been  prevalent  in  her  past 
liistor3\  Still,  our  gratification  in  the  statement  of  this  fact 
is  subject  to  some  abatement  by  the  consideration  that  the 
history  of  these  various  institutions,  in  the  majority  of  cases, 
has  shown  them  to  have  been  inefiicient.  Of  course,  we  ex- 
cept from  this  last  remark  that  noble  old  monument  of  the 
Christian  zeal  and  generosity  of  the  Louisiana  and  Missis- 
sippi Presbyterians,  '•  Oakland  College,"  which,  until  de- 
spoiled by  the  ruthless  hands  of  savage  soldiery,  had 
wrought  so  grandly  in  the  service  of  the  church  and  of  the 
State  during  thii'ty  years  or  more,  in  filling  the  pulpit,  the 


Education  in  Mississippi.  259 

bar,  and  the  honored  circles  of  social  and  professional  life 
with  its  alumni.  It  must  not  be  forgotten,  in  this  connec- 
tion, that  althcugh  Oakland,  as  a  college,  after  winding  up 
her  great  work,  passed  away,  she  made  a  bequest  of  the 
remnant  of  her  estate  to  a  worthy  daughter,  "  Chamberlain- 
Hunt  Academy,"  which  bears  the  hereditary  honors,  and 
promises  already  to  reflect  permanent  credit  upon  her  emi- 
nent ancestry,  and  to  be  one  of  the  ornaments  of  the  church 
and  of  the  State.  The  College  also  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
located  at  Clinton,  is  doing  a  noble  work  for  that  enter- 
prising denomination  of  Christians,  which  was  begun  early 
in  the  educational  history  of  the  State.  The  full  history  of 
these  institutions  is  relegated  as  a  task  to  others  of  more  in- 
timate association  with  them,  and  who  have  enjoyed  access 
to  wider  and  more  accurate  sources  of  information  in  re^-ard 
to  them.  As  to  other  efforts  in  the  line  of  building  up  the 
educational  interests  of  the  State,  they  were  mainly  confined 
to  private  and  local  enterprise,  and  although,  in  many  cases, 
unsuccessful,  yet  they  were  commendable ;  they  pointed  in 
the  right  direction.  Even  if  they  did  fail  to  achieve  all  that 
was  desirable  and  enduring,  it  must  be  attributed,  in  j^art 
at  least,  to  the  state  of  the  country.  The  first  settlers  of 
any  countr}'-  must  always  secure,  as  a  primary  necessity,  the 
means  of  Uving.  In  addition  to  this,  a  new  country  is  gen- 
erally crowded  with  adventurers,  who  come  with  golden 
visions  of  vast  fortunes  speedily  to  be  amassed,  and  thus 
that  attention  which  is  indispensable  to  the  success  of  edu- 
cation is  directed  to  other  objects  not  so  worthy. 


CHAPTEE   XYII. 

The  Peepaeatoey   Steps  foe  the   Opening  or  the  Univeesitt. — ■ 
Eeection  of  Buildings  and  Inaugueation  Ceeemoisttes. 

THE  initiatory  steps  in  founding  the  University  -were 
taken  in  1819,  two  years  after  Mississippi  had  been  ad- 
mitted into  the  "Union.  By  the  liberahty  of  the  Congress 
of  that  year  an  entire  townshij)  of  the  pubhc  domain  within 
the  State,  amounting  to  23,040  acres,  was  granted  to  the 
State  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  seminary  of  learn- 
ing. The  title  to  this  land  was,  by  act  of  Congress,  vested 
in  the  State  Legislature,  in  trust,  for  the  support  of  the  in- 
stitution. We  learn  also,  by  further  investigation,  that  the 
trust  was  accepted  by  the  Legislature,  and  that,  in  pursu- 
ance of  the  spirit  and  intent  of  the  act,  "  lands  of  great 
value"  were  selected  by  the  State,  and  in  due  time  thirty- 
five  and  one-half  of  the  thirty-six  sections  were  sold.  Notes 
were  taken  of  the  purchasers  with  approved  security,  and 
deposited  in  the  Planter's  Bank  in  1833  for  collection. 
Several  years  thereafter,  the  first  action  was  taken  toward 
the  axDplication  of  the  fund  thus  accruing  to  the  pui'j)oses 
for  which  the  grant  was  designed. 

Commissioners  had  been  appointed  by  the  Legislature 
with  authority  to  visit  various  sections  of  the  State,  and  re- 
ceive proposals  inviting  the  location  of  the  University  in 
their  midst.  In  1841,  after  some  discussion  of  all  the 
propositions,  Oxford,  in  La  Payette  county,  was  selected,  hj 
a  majority  of  one  vote,  as  the  seat  of  the  institution.  The 
citizens  of  the  town  and  county  had  purchased  a  section  of 
land,  and  had  donated  it  to  the  authorities  of  the  Univer- 
sity as  a  site  whereon  to  build. 

260 


Erection  of  Buildings  for  the  University.  261 

In  1844.  the  Legislature  chartered  the  institution,  under 
the  following  Board  of  Trustees :  J.  Alexander  Ventress, 
Woodville,  Miss. ;  John  Anthony  Quitman,  Natchez,  Miss, ; 
"Williani  L.  Sharkey,  Jackson,  Miss. ;  Edward  C.  "Wilkinson, 
Yazoo  City,  Miss. ;  Francis  L.  Hawks,  Holly  Springs,  Miss. ; 
Alexander  H.  Pegues,   Oxford,   Miss. ;  Wm.    Y.    Gholson, 

■ ;  Alexander  M.  Clayton,  Marshall  county.  Miss. , 

Jacob  Thompson,  Oxford,  Miss. ;  Prj^or  Lee,  Jackson,  Miss. ; 
James  M.  Howry,  Oxford,  Miss. ;  John  J.  McCaughan,  Mis- 
sissippi City,  jMiss. ;  John  N.  Waddel,  Montrose,  Miss. 

Shortly  after  the  act  of  incorporation,  the  Board  pro- 
ceeded to  organize  themselves,  as  already  recorded  on  a  pre- 
ceding page,  into  a  regular  body,  and  commenced  at  once  to 
discharge  their  important  duties.  The  erection  of  the 
necessary  buildings  for  the  purposes  of  the  institution  wag 
the  first  object  to  be  accomplished  by  the  Board.  Accord- 
ingly, contracts  were  entered  into  with  an  architect,  who 
was  engaged  to  superintend  the  work,  after  the  ordinary 
advertisements  published  in  the  public  journals,  and  me- 
chanics were  employed.  In  the  meantime,  other  matters 
demanding  the  close  attention  of  the  Board  were  in  pro- 
gress, and  other  points  were  in  need  of  settlement,  so  that 
the  University  should  be  prepared  to  begin  its  operations  in 
all  its  functions  simultaneously.  While,  then,  the  material 
for  the  buildings  was  being  collected  and  put  together  upon 
such  a  scale  as  was  deemed  consistent  with  the  important 
nature  of  the  great  enterprise,  and  the  means  at  their  dis- 
posal, the  Board  of  Trustees  found  themselves  pressed 
■with  other  equally  important  subjects,  viz.  :  The  character 
and  number  of  those  who  should  be  by  them  charged  with 
the  conduct,  discipline  and  instruction  of  the  institution, 
together  with  the  outline  and  curriculum  of  the  studies  to 
be  pursued  in  the  University  by  those  who  should  seek  ad- 
mission into  the  University. 

I  had  dismissed  my  school  in  May  or  in  June,  on  account 


262  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

of  protracted  illness,  and  had  become  convalescent  about  the 
time  of  my  election.     After  this  I  made  all  the  preparations 
above  mentioned,  and  took  my  leave  of  the  country  about 
the  last  of  October.     The  exercises  of  the  University  were 
to  commence  on  the  6th  of  November,  and  we  arrived  in 
good  time  to  become  settled  for  the  work  upon  w^hich  we 
were  so  soon  to  enter.    The  inaugural  exercises  of  the  Univer- 
sity consisted  of  an  address  by  Hon.  Jacob  Thompson,  on 
behalf  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  delivered  in  the  Lyceum,  in 
the  Chemical  lecture-room,  which,  at  that  time,  was  the  only 
j^ublic  hall  on  the  campus  capacious  enough  to  accommodate 
an  audience  of  any  considerable  size.     This  was  responded 
to  by  the  President,  George  F.  Holmes,  in  an  elaborate  ora- 
tion, a  large  and  interested  assembly  being  present.     Thus 
organized,  the  Faculty  and  students  were  prepared  to  begin 
the  practical  discharge  of  their  respective  duties,  but  under 
many  difficulties  and  inconveniences.     In  an  interior  town, 
remote  from  the  great  thoroughfares,  and  long  before  lines 
of  railroads  were  established  to  any  great  extent,  no  text- 
books at  all  were  to  be  obtained,  and  great  delay  ensued 
before  this  w^ant  and  that  of  other  essentials  could  be  sup- 
plied.    In  due  time,  however,  the  new  machinery  was  fairly 
put  into  operation.     The  Board  of  Trustees  seemed  gratified 
with    the   promising   prospects  before  the  institution,   the 
citizens  welcomed  the  Facult}^  to  their  new  residence  among 
them,  and  quite  a  concourse  of  newly-arrived  students  made 
their  appearance  upon  the  Campus,  prepared  to  matriculate. 
Such  was  the  scene  presented  on  the  6th  day  of  November, 
1848,  by  the  various  parties  interested  in  the  opening  of  the 
University.     "We  found,  on  our  opening,  that  the  necessary  ar- 
rangements and  buildings  which  had  baen  contracted  for  were 
now  in  readiness  for  partial  occupation,  and  consisted  of  the  fol- 
lowing ;  The  campus,  which  was  of  very  great  natural  beauty, 
was  located  in  the  centre  of  the  section  of  land  donated  by  the 
citizens  of  the  town  of  Oxford  and  the  county  of  Lafayette. 


Arrangement  of  Buildings.  26a 

It  began  from  a  level  spot  facing  east,  and  sloping  gently 
and  regularly  for  several  hundred  yards  in  that  direction, 
and  extending  on  the  north  and  on  the  south  to  a  sufScient 
space  for  a  large  and  capacious  circle,  the  circumference  of 
which  was  occupied  by  dormitories,  residences  for  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Faculty,  chapel,  and  Lyceum.     This  last-men- 
tioned building  being  the  most  prominent,   occupied  the 
central  point  of  the  circle  at  its  highest  elevation,  and  the 
others  on  the  right  and  left  at  successive  points  of  the  cam- 
pus until  the  circle  was  complete.     The  Lyceum  was  an  im- 
posing structm-e  of  the  height  of  three  stories,  and  with  a 
front  portico  supported  by  six  large  and  handsome  columns. 
It  contained,  on  the  first  floor,  two  rooms  and  a  large  chem- 
ical theatre  for  lectures,  and  a  laboratory  running  back,  of 
large  dimensions.     In  the  second  story  was,  in  front,  a  fine 
room  devoted  to  a  collection  of  shells   and  geological  and 
mineral  specimens  of  great  value  and  beauty ;  and  besides 
this  room,  were  four  rooms  for  lecture  and  recitation  pur- 
]30ses.     The  third  floor  was  occupied  at  that  time  by  the 
Library  and  similar  rooms,  corresponding  to  those  of  the 
second  story.     On  the  right  and  left  spaces  of  the  campus 
were  dormitories  for  the  use  of  the  students,  as  study  and 
sleeping   apartments.      These   were   of    a   uniform   height 
with  the  Lyceum  (three  stories),   and  each   consisting   of 
thirty-six  rooms.     At  first  they  presented  a  bare  front,  with 
only  ordinary  entrances  by  a  small  door  opening  into  each  of 
the  three  halls;  but  at  a  later  period  handsome  three-story 
verandas  were  added  to  each  dormitory,  which  x^resented  a 
fine,  ornamental  front.     The  capacity  of  these  three  build- 
ings was  estimated  for  the  accommodation  of  over  two  hun- 
dred students.     On  opposite  sides  of  the  campus,  and  adja- 
jacent  to  the  dormitories,  were  erected  two  double-tenement 
buildings  for  Professors,  also  of  three  stories  in  height,  each 
tenement  consisting  of  six  rooms,  or  with  twelve  rooms  un- 
der the  same  roof,  to  each  of  which  buildings,  at  a  subse- 


264  John  N.  ^yADDEL,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

quent  period,  two  other  rooms  were  added  on  the  ground 
floor,  A  three-story  building  was  erected  on  the  north 
lower  curve  of  the  campus  as  a  chapel  for  daily  worshij). 
The  first  and  second  stories  consisted  of  a  ground  floor,  and 
a  gallery,  which  extended  on  three  sides  of  the  house,  to  ac- 
commodate audiences  on  occasions  of  Commencement  exer- 
cises. The  third  story  was  appropriated  to  the  two  Literary 
Societies  of  the  Uniyersity.  These  buildino-s  were  added  to 
afterwards  by  others,  not  on  the  campus,  but  adjacent  to  it. 
The  most  important  of  these  was  a  large  building  for  the 
use  of  the  Observatory,  lecture-room,  and  apparatus  for 
Analytical  Physics  and  Astronomy,  together  with  rooms  for 
the  family  of  the  Professor.  Then  also,  as  the  original  hall 
for  commons  in  the  rear  of  the  Lyceum  was  found  to  be  in- 
sufficient for  the  accommodation  of  the  increased  number  of 
the  boarding  students,  a  new  and  more  capacious  hall  was 
built  outside  of  the  campus,  and  at  some  distance  from  it. 
'\Yit\i  the  excejotion  of  this  last  structure,  and  a  Professor's 
Tesidence,  which  was  purchased  by  the  Board,  all  the  build- 
ings were  enclosed  in  the  campus.  One  more  building  was 
erected  in  1889,  within  the  inclosure,  for  library  j)urposes,  on 
the  lower  section  of  the  circle. 

The  cost  of  all  these  buildings  amounted  to  the  round 
sum  of  two  hundred  and  twentj^-five  thousand  dollars. 
The  various  needed  classes  of  apparatus  for  illustration  of 
the  sciences,  chemistry,  geology,  mineralogy,  physics  and 
astronomy,  cost  originally  the  sum  of  sixty  thousand  dollars. 

Ample  appropriation  is  annually  made  for  the  libraiy, 
which  consists  of  9,000  volumes,  besides  3,000  Government 
Heports,  worth  $20,000.  To  this  adding  lands  and  resi- 
dences, leased,  amoimting  to  $30,000,  and  the  whole  sums  up 
i^335,000. 

The  acknowledged  debt  of  the  State  to  the  L^niversity 
is  $540,000,  and  $15,000  will  be  added  to  the  further  equip- 
ment of  the  observatory.     The  University  camj^us  j)ossesses 


The  University  Grounds.  265 

as  great  attractions  of  natiu'al  beauty  as  any  location  of  a 
similar  nature  and  for  similar  pui-poses.  The  beautiful  in- 
clination of  the  grounds,  and  the  grand  old  oaks  which 
tower  above  and  overshadow  the  campus,  make  the  spot  one 
to  endear  the  University  to  those  who  have  been  privileged 
to  enjoy  its  priceless  advantages. 


CHAPTER   XYIII. 

Genebal  View   of  Mattees  Connected  with  the  First  Session  of 

THE    UnIVEESITY. 

THE  corner-stone  of  the  Lyceum  had  been  laid  mth  Ma- 
sonic honors,  some  time  previous  to  the  period  under 
consideration ;  an  oration  had  been  pronounced  by  (if  I  mis- 
taJie  not)  John  J.  McCaughan,  Esq.,  and  the  inauguration 
exercises,  as  described  on  a  previous  page,  having  passed  to 
the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned,  we  felt  now  that  the  work- 
ing time  had  arrived,  when,  all  these  prehminaries  having 
been  completed,  they  were  to  be  realized  in  the  actual 
grand  results  which  had  been  anticipated,  and  which  had 
been  predicted  by  the  friends  and  directors  of  the  institu- 
tion. Hopes  and  visions  of  splendid  success  must  now  be 
brought  to  the  test  of  every-day  apphcation,  and  the  small 
corps  of  instructors  began  to  realize  now  that  the  heavy  re- 
sponsibility of  putting  into  successful  operation  all  the  ex- 
ternal and  internal  machinery  of  this  great  enterprise,  was 
resting  upon  them.  The  progress  of  the  session  just  open- 
ing— the  first  of  the  University — i^roved  to  the  Faculty  that 
the  office  of  Professor — always  arduous  in  the  most  favor- 
able circumstances — was,  in  this  case,  by  no  means  a  sine- 
cure, no  mere  child's  play. 

The  institution,  as  the  reader  of  this  histoiy  may  have 
anticipated,  was  made  to  pass  through  a  season  of  expe- 
rience that  severely  tested  its  capacity  of  successful  endur- 
ance.    This  is  traceable  to  two  separate  originating  causes : 

1.  The  confidence  of  the  citizens  of  the  State  had  re- 
ceived a  shock  so  violent,  in  consequence  of  the  public  dis- 
cussion which  was  held  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  at  the 

266 


The  First  Students.  267 

time  of  the  election  of  the  Faculty,  that  it  was  not  jDossible 
to  repress  some  lingering  apprehensions,  awakened  at  that 
period,  in  regard  to  the  infidel  tendencies  of  the  University. 
The  prejudices  thus  aroused  \vere  with  difficulty  removed. 

2.  Fidelity  to  my  ofiice  as  historian  of  this  noble  institu- 
tion impels  me  to  record  its  "  lights  and  shadows,"  its  dark 
as  well  as  its  bright  days.  Hence  it  must  be  stated  that, 
in  all  probability,  very  rarely,  if  ever,  was  an  institu- 
tion of  learning  attended  by  a  body  of  students  so  disor- 
derly and  turbulent  as  those  of  the  first  session  proved  to 
be,  taken  as  a  mass.  True  it  is  that,  among  those  early 
students  were  numbered  some  of  the  first  young  men  of  the 
country ;  but  in  point  of  morals  and  habits  of  application 
to  duty,  and  intellectual  advancement,  the  large  body  of  the 
students  were  idle,  uncultivated,  viciously  disposed,  and  un- 
governable. The  difficulties  that  were  connected  with  the 
management  and  control  of  the  students  were  attributable, 
more  than  to  any  other  cause,  to  the  assemblage  ut  one  spot 
of  so  many  untrained  young  men  and  boys,  mau}^  of  whom  had 
never  before  attended  such  an  institution,  and  whose  ima«"- 
inations  had  been  allured  by  the  traditional  conception  that 
a  college  life  was  only  a  scene  of  fun  and  frolic.  This  sub- 
ject may  be  dismissed  with  the  remark  that,  in  my  opinion, 
nothing  saved  the  University  from  utter  and  speedy  ruin, 
under  God  s  blessing,  but  the  sternest  and  most  rigid  exer- 
cise of  discipline. 

The  Faculty,  let  it  be  remembered,  consisted  of  but  four 
members  at  this  time,  viz  :  President  George  Frederick 
Holmes,  A.  M. ;  Albert  Taylor  Lledsoe,  LL.  D.,  Professor  of 
IMathematics  and  Astronomy;  John  Millington,  M.  D.,  Pro- 
fessor of  Chemistry,  Natural  Philosophy,  etc. ;  John  New- 
ton Waddel,  D.  D.,  Professor  of  Greek  and  Latin  Lan- 
guages. The  first  class,  regularly  organized,  and  the  high- 
est then  known  in  the  University,  was  the  Sophomore,  and 
as  this  class  had  before  it  the  Junior  and  Senior  classes- 


^68  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

through  which  its  members  TN'ere   to  pass,    of  course   our 
first  graduating  class  with  the  degree  of  B.  A.  was  sent 
forth  in  1851.     I  have  aUuded,  in  a  foregoing  page,  to  the 
fact  that  no  text-books  on  any  subject  of  instruction  could 
be  procured  in  the  town  of  Oxford.     In  this  emergency,  I 
made  a  special  visit  to  the  town  of  Holly  Springs,  where  a 
classical  school  had  been  in  operation  under  the  superin- 
tendence of  the  Eev.  Francis  L.  Hawks,  long  before  his  ap- 
pointment to  the  Bishopric  in  the   Episcopal  Church.     I 
correctly  supposed  that  text-books,  especially  in  my  depart- 
ment, might  be  found  on  sale  in  that  place,  and,  perhaps,  a 
supply  for  other  departments.     I  procured  such  as  would 
provide  for  the  pressing  needs  of  our  classes  until  better 
ai'rangements  could  be  made.     But  the  supply  was  meagre, 
and  to  the  credit  of  those  of  our  Faculty  who  were  without 
text-books,  they  assembled  the  classes  at  the  hours  assigned 
to  them,  and  dehvered  instructive  lectures  on  their  several 
subjects.     President  Holmes  lectured  regularly  on  History, 
and  of  this  subject  he  was  a  i^roficient ;  and  Professor  Mil- 
Ungton  delivered  lectures  on  the  sciences  of  Chemistry  and 
Natural   Philosophy.     Professor   Bledsoe    took    charge    of 
Mathematics,  and  engaged  his  students  in  temporary  exer- 
cises, such  as  to  him  seemed  best  and  most  profitable  for  the 
time  being.     As  for  myself,  I  had  full  employment  in  giving 
text-book  instruction  to  a  number   of  students,  who,  for 
lack  of  advancement,  w^ere,  most  of  them,  only  beginners. 
Among  those,  however,  who  were  fitted  for  the  highest  class 
then  organized,  viz.,  the  Sophomore,  were  two  students  who 
had  been  my  pupils  at  Montrose  Academy,  and  who  were 
among  the  leading  students  of  the  class.     I  had  students  of 
all  grades  of  advancement,  from  the  elements  of  the  Latin 
and   Greek   to  the  reading  of  Latin   and  Greek  authors. 
'SMiere  a  young  man  wished  to  master  these  languages,  and 
had  no  knowledge  of  either,  or  of  only  Latin,  in  all  such 
cases  I  bestowed  so  much  of  my  private  leisure  hours  as  I 


Discipline  in  the  TJniveesitt.  269 

could  redeem  from  other  matters  upon  them,  giving  them 
all  possible  aid,  even  in  the  grammars.  It  cannot  be 
denied,  then,  that  we  were  engaged  to  the  full  extent  of  our 
time  and  opportunities  in  the  discharge  of  om:  respective 
duties  as  professors  in  our  several  chairs  of  instruction;, 
but  after  all  that  could  be  accomplished  under  circum- 
stances so  adverse,  the  time  of  our  students  was  far  from 
being  fully  occupied  in  profitable  study,  and  being  left,  par- 
ticularly at  night,  to  themselves,  abundant  opportunities  for 
concocting  mischief,  and  temptations  were  pressing  upon 
them  to  indulge  in  all  manner  of  sinful  propensities.  The 
Legislature  of  Mississippi  had  passed  an  act,  previous  ta 
the  opening  of  the  University,  that  no  intoxicating  liquors 
should  be  sold  in  the  town  of  Oxford,  or  within  less  than 
five  miles  thereof.  Obviously  this  legislation  was  designed 
for  the  jDrotection  of  the  students  against  saloons.  But  the 
history  of  this  prohibition,  like  that  of  all  similar  efforts, 
shows  that  the  appetite  for  strong  drink  is  one  that,  in  most 
instances,  is  so  imperious  as  to  bid  defiance  to  law  or  pub- 
lic sentiment,  and  it  is  found  that  a  way  to  gratify  it  wdll  be 
discovered  by  its  victims  in  despite  of  all  measures  to  the. 
contrary.  For  although,  at  that  time,  and  for  nine  years 
after,  there  was  no  such  method  of  transportation  as  rail- 
roads between  Oxford  and  Memphis,  those  who  desired  ta 
have  the  poison  availed  themselves  of  the  less  expeditious 
mode  of  commercial  intercourse  offered  by  the  wagons 
bearing  cotton  to  market,  and,  in  return,  bringing  all  goods 
ordered,  and  this  among  other  articles.  Nor  was  this  the  only 
mode  of  evasion  of  the  law  which  was  practiced  by  parties 
interested.  Druggists,  keej)ing  it  by  permission,  would  sell 
intoxicants  on  prescription  by  a  physician,  who  would  be  in- 
duced too  easily  to  furnish  such  a  paper.  In  this  way 
much  of  the  evils  of  disorder  and  dissij)ation  among  the 
students  prevailed,  and  the  result  was  that  the  first  ses- 
sion of  the  University  was  characterized  by  great  trouble 


270  John  L.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

to  the  professors,  and  much  severity  of  disciphne  was  en- 
forced. 

The  disorder  after  a  time  became  so  notorious  as  to  in- 
duce a  visit  of  a  j^art  of  the  Trustees  to  the  campus,  and 
after  a  conference  with  the  Faculty,  a  more  rigid  enforce- 
ment of  the  rules  of  discipline  was  insisted  upon. 

Now,  I  need  scarcely  remark  that  the  burden  of  discipline 
under  all  cases  devolves  upon  the  presiding  officer.  But 
while  our  President  was  undoubtedly  a  polished  scholar  and 
gentleman,  it  cannot  be  claimed  for  him  by  his  most  ardent 
admirers  that  he  possessed  the  talent  of  government,  espe- 
cially of  young  men.  Indeed,  it  is  one  of  those  qualities 
which  must  be  born  with  a  man,  and  I  believe  that  it  is  as 
trul}'  an  innate  talent  as  the  genius  of  the  poet.  It  is  one 
that  cannot  be  acquired,  and  yet  it  may  be  wonderfully  im- 
proved by  experience.  It  was  a  practice  to  which  the  Presi- 
dent habitually  resorted,  and  upon  which  he  seemed  en- 
tirely to  rely  for  success  in  his  government  of  the  student- 
body,  to  make  earnest  a^^peals  to  the  high-toned  princi^Dles 
of  true  honor  and  gentlemanly  manhood ;  and  this  he  evi- 
dently deemed  abundantly  direct  and  effectual  in  all  cases  " 
of  disorder  and  lawless  outrage  that  might  be  prevalent  in 
any  student  body.  I  hold  this  theory  in  a  modified  form, 
and  have  acted  uj)on  it  accordingly,  to  a  certain  extent,  in 
my  career  as  an  officer  charged  with  the  government  of 
young  men  and  immature  boys.  These  appeals  I  regard  as 
of  vast  importance,  and  in  my  experience  they  have  proved 
eminently  successful,  and  in  all,  except  extremely  depraved 
subjects,  they  should  be  adopted  as  constituting  a  highly 
valuable  part  of  the  system  of  academic  rule.  It  is  not  to 
be  doubted—  nay,  it  must  be  accepted  as  an  essential  ele- 
ment in  the  training  of  young  men — that  those  in  charge  of 
their  education  should  inculcate  the  highest  principles  of 
Christian  truth,  virtue,  and  honor.  In  the  very  outset,  let 
it  be  distinctly  announced  to  the  students  that  they  are 


Discipline  in  the  Unr^ersity.  271 

supposed,  in  advance,  to  be  gentlemen,  and  that  they  will 
be  treated  and  dealt  with  as  such  until  they  so  demean 
themselves  as  to  forfeit  a  claim  to  such  a  character  and 
prove  that  they  belong  to  a  different  class.  If  the  instructor 
succeeds  in  inspiring  them  with  a  proper  degree  of  self-re- 
spect, this  will  lead  to  confidence  in  him  and  such  respect 
for  him  as  will  prevent  the  perpetration  of  any  offensive  or 
ungentlemanly  conduct  on  their  part.  At  the  same  time  it 
must  be  understood  by  the  student-body,  not  by  issuance 
of  threats,  but  as  the  well-known  consequence  of  all  viola- 
tioDS  of  propriety,  that  in  case  such  appeals  should  fail  of 
their  desired  effect,  resort  must  be  had  to  more  restrictive 
measures,  and  sterner  methods  must  be  adopted.  Far  be  it 
irom  me  to  intimate  that  our  first  President  was  at  all  de- 
fective in  his  views  of  what  constitutes  true  honor  and  vir- 
tue. I  attribute  to  him  no  such  deficiency.  I  only  assume 
that  his  scholarly  taste  and  pursuits,  and  his  devotion  to 
study,  were  so  absorbing  as  to  illustrate,  in  his  case,  an  ex- 
cess of  the  suaviter  in  modo,  to  the  exclusion  of  a  due  ad- 
mixture of  the  fortiter  in  re.  But  although  the  Faculty 
numbered  but  four  incumbents  in  the  outset — a  body  too 
small  for  effective  operations — yet  even  this  number  was 
diminished  by  the  enforced  absence  of  the  President,  leav- 
ing only  three  to  manage  the  whole  student-body  and  the 
entire  interests  of  the  institution — Professors  Bledsoe,  Mil- 
lington,  and  myself.  The  occasion  of  President  Holmes's 
departure  was  the  faihng  health  of  his  child  and  of  himself, 
which  required  that  he  should  make  a  visit  to  Virginia  for 
pm-poses  of  medical  counsel.  It  was  understood  at  the  time 
that  this  withdi-awal  was  only  temporaiy,  and  that  he  would 
return  when  restored ;  but  as  he  never  returned,  the  official 
functions  of  presiding  officer  devolved  upon  Professor  Bled- 
soe, as  the  senior  member  of  the  Faculty  in  the  order  of 
election.  Aided  by  the  other  two  Professors,  Millinoton 
.and  myself,  the  affairs  of  the  University  were,  after  much 


272  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

trouble  and  trial,  successfully  brought  to  a  respectable  con- 
clusion, and  the  session  closed  with,  an  exhibition  by  the 
students  of  elocution  and  composition,  being  an  irregular 
Commencement  occasion;  but  the  institution  was  found 
"without  a  President. 


•     ,  CHAPTER  XIX. 

ANNUAii  Meeting  of  the  Boakd  of  Trustees  — Election  of  Presi- 
dent.— Some  STArisTics. — Sketch  of  President  Longstreet  ani>- 
Others. 

I^HE  Board  of  Trustees  held  their  annual  meeting  in  Ox- 
ford, and  found  that  the  first  and  most  important  duty 
was  to  elect  a  President,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the 
•withdrawal  of  President  Holmes.  Having  declared  the 
ofiice  vacant,  they  proceeded  to  fill  it  by  the  unanimous 
election  of  Hon.  and  Rev.  A.  B.  Longstreet,  though  not  a 
candidate,  and  without  his  knowledge  of  such  intention  on 
their  part.  This  gentleman  had  resigned  the  presidency  of 
Emory  College  (the  Georgia  Methodist  College,  at  Oxford), 
one  year  previous  to  this  time,  and  had  accepted  the  same 
office  in  the  Centenary,  another  Methodist  College,  in  Louis- 
iana. Being  disappointed  in  the  expectations  he  had  formed 
by  representations  made  to  him,  and  not  meeting  the  en- 
couragement he  had  anticipated  there,  at  the  close  of  the 
first  five  months  he  resigned  the  office,  and  returned  to 
Georgia,  in  Jnly,  18 i9.  It  so  happened  that  I  had  just  ar- 
rived  in  Georgia,  on  a  visit  to  my  relatives,  about  the  time 
of  his  retm^n  from  Louisiana.  The  first  inteUigence  that  he 
received  of  his  call  to  the  University  came  to  him  through 
me.  I  propose  now  to  present  a  brief  sketch  of  this  distin- 
guished man,  who  has  filled  so  large  a  space  in  the  public 
eye  daring  a  large  part  of  the  present  century.  It  is  im- 
I)ossible,  in  any  record  of  the  past  history  of  the  University, 
to  dismiss  this  revered  and  honored  name  with  a  mere 
statement  of  his  connection  with  it  and  a  complimentary' 
notice  of  his  administration  of  its  affairs.  Personal  and 
18  273 


274  John  N.  AVaddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

official  intimacy  with,  liim  alike  forbid  such  a  course ;  and 
peculiar  relations  of  affection  and  family  friendship  between 
us  revolt  from  any  common-place  notice  of  such  a  man.  I 
must  be  indulged  while  I  attempt  some  more  extended 
notice  of 

Key.  Augustus  Baldwin  Longstreet,  LL.  D.,  D.  D. 

The  more  familiar  title,  that  by  which  he  was  best  known 
among  his  earliest  acquaintances  and  oldest  friends,  was 
''Judge  Longstreet."  He  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  but 
so  large  a  part  of  his  hfe  and  labors  was  spent  in  Georgia 
that  he  was  known  more  as  a  Georgian  than  as  a  citizen  of 
the  former  State.  His  name  was  a  familiar  household 
"word  in  my  native  home  from  my  early  youth.  He  was  a 
pupil  of  my  father's  celebrated  academy  at  Willingtou,  South 
Carolina,  which  he  himself  has  immortalized  in  that  chapter 
of  the  "Georqia  Scenes  "  headed  "The  Debatiiio*  Society. ' 
There  he  was  fitted  for  the  Junior  Class  in  Yale  College, 
where,  in  the  year  1813,  he  was  graduated  in  a  class  of  sev- 
enty. Subsequently  he  pursued  his  course  in  law  at  Litch- 
field, Conn.,  at  the  Law  School  of  Tapping  Eeeve  and  James 
Gould,  under  whose  instruction  so  many  distinguished  men 
of  the  South  pursued  their  legal  studies  preparatory  to  the 
practice  of  the  profession.  Having  entered  upon  the  career 
of  an  attorney  at  law  in  Georgia  with  prospects  unusually 
bright,  he  soon  rose  to  the  highest  rank,  and  stood  among 
the  foremost  of  a  profession  in  which  his  compeers  were 
such  men  as  Berrien,  Cobb,  Dawson,  and  many  others  of 
abilities  equally  splendid.  He  rapidly  won  for  himself  such 
a  reputation  and  achieved  such  fame  as  a  finished  and  elo- 
quent orator  that  he  could  always  command  as  large  an  au- 
dience as  any  man  in  the  State,  and  there  were  few  who 
were  so  attractive  as  a  speaker.  Under  the  powerful  influ- 
ence of  God's  Holy  Spirit,  when  at  the  very  height  of  his 
fame  and  popularity,  he  abandoned  the  legal  profession  and 


'■  President  Loxgstreet.  275 

the  political  life  "which  Tvas  spread  out  before  him,  and, 
yielding  to  the  chastening  hand  of  his  heavenly  Father,  in 
a  deep  and  sore  affliction,  the  loss  of  an  only  son,  he  ac- 
cepted, with  an  humble  and  devout  spirit,  what  he  believed 
the  call  of  God  to  the  holy  ministry.  AYhile  engaged  in 
this  exalted  service  he  was  called  by  his  church  to  the 
Presidency  of  the  Emory  College,  located  at  Oxford,  Ga., 
where,  without  ceasing  at  all  the  functions  of  a  gospel  min- 
ister, he  added  to  them  the  duties  of  a  preceptor  of  youth, 
and  occupied  this  position  for  thirteen  j-ears,  with  credit, 
honor,  and  usefulness.  Called,  as  already  recorded,  to  pre- 
side over  the  Centenary  College,  of  Louisiana,  ho  accepted 
the  call,  but  remained  there  only  five  months,  when,  finding 
the  field  wholly  unsuited  to  his  views,  he  resigned  and  re- 
turned to  Georgia.  Hardly  had  he  arrived  in  the  State 
when  he  received  the  information,  from  official  and  private 
sources,  nearly  at  the  same  time,  that  he  had  been  elected 
unanimously  to  the  Presidency  of  the  University  of  Missis- 
sippi, not  having  been  a  candidate  for  the  office.  Here  his 
career  was  eminently  successful.  Entering  upon  the  duties 
of  his  office  in  September,  1849,  he  gave  his  best  services  to 
the  institution,  and  in  the  unparalleled  prosperity  of  the 
University  during  the  seven  years  of  his  incumbency,  he 
reaped  the  truest,  richest,  and  most  gratifying  reward  for 
all  his  unwearviuQ-  and  faithful  toils. 

On  his  entrance  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  he  was  con- 
fronted at  once  by  the  two  difficulties  to  which  allusion  has 
been  already  made,  viz. :  1,  The  bad  repute  of  the  Univer- 
sity for  order  and  discipline ;  2,  The  reputation  which  had 
been  unjustly  attributed  to  it,  but  which  had,  by  natural 
consequence,  cleaved  to  the  institution,  that  its  tendencies 
were  towards  infidelity.  The  result  of  the  second  session 
(the  first  of  the  new  administration)  could  hardly  be  consid- 
ered a  success,  in  the  usual  acceptation  of  that  word,  in  all 
respects,  there  being  in  attendance  during  the  whole  year 


276  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

only  seventy- six  students.  It  was  soon  ascertained,  how- 
ever, by  the  people  of  the  State  that  there  was  at  the  helm 
a  master  spirit,  and  year  by  year  the  patronage  steadily  in- 
creased until  the  number  two  hundred  and  sixty -four  was 
reached.  Although  this  number  was  attained  after  his  re- 
signation, it  is  not  to  be  doubted  for  a  moment  that  this 
prosperity  was  due  to  the  wise  administration  of  President 
Longstreet,  which  had  gained  for  the  University  the  entire 
confidence  of  the  people  of  the  State.  Naturally,  therefore, 
the  impulse  imparted  b}^  his  instrumentality  to  the  Univer- 
sity continued  to  oj^erate  after  he  had  left  it. 

The  resignation  of  this  pure-minded,  upright,  and  able 
college  executive  took  effect  in  July,  1856,  and  I  take  occa- 
sion, at  this  point  of  his  record,  to  present  to  the  reader  my 
estimate  of  him  as  he  was  known  to  me  in  the  capacity  of  a 
public  servant  and  in  the  sacred  retirement  of  private  life. 

(1.)  As  a  public  servant.  His  character  was  adorned  not 
merely  with  a  morality  current  with  the  world,  but  with  the 
enduring  yet  chastened  lustre  of  Christian  purity.  He  was 
vigilant  without  being  offensive ;  he  succeeded  in  impressing 
students  with  the  conviction  that  he  was  solicitous  for  their 
highest  intellectual  and  moral  advancement ;  he  was  emi- 
nently self-possessed,  preserving  ever  self-control;  he  gov- 
erned without  any  ostentatious  display  of  the  machinery  of 
government.  He  possessed,  in  a  remarkable  degree,  the 
faculty  of  swaying  the  student- body  during  exciting  scenes. 
Equally  estimable  was  he 

(2.)  In^private  life.  Genial  and  cordial  in  his  tempera- 
ment, he  was  well-known  as  possessed  of  a  deep  and  subtle 
vein  of  rich  humor,  which  was  irresistible  in  its  cheerful 
and  even  mh-thful  influence.  In  his  heart  there  was  no 
mahce  or  bitterness,  and  his  wit  partook  of  no  sarcasm  for 
the  person,  but  was  aimed  at  the  follies  of  the  times  which 
called  for  rebuke.  He  was  charitable  in  his  judgments, 
liberal  in  his  views,  and  public-spirited  in  any  good  cause. 


Prof.  John  Millington.  277 

His  opinions  in  religion  and  politics  were  preeminently  de- 
cided, yet  with  catholicity  and  charity  of  tenderness  towards 
the  creeds  of  others,  and  with  entire  absence  of  dog-matism 
on  the  one  hand,  or  timidity  in  expressing  his  views  on  the 
other.  As  a  preacher,  he  was  solemn,  earnest,  and  instruc- 
tive ;  as  a  writer,  his  style  was  chaste  and  beautiful ;  as  a 
man,  then,  take  him  for  all  in  all,  his  character  will  bear  the 
closest  scrutiny  in  pubhc  or  private  life.  He  was  a  kind 
husband,  an  affectionate  father,  a  humane  master,  a  consid- 
erate neighbor,  a  genial  companion,  an  affable  teacher,  a 
wise  counsellor,  a  man  of  faith  and  trust  in  God,  enjoying 
to  a  degree  that  was  remarkable  the  assurance  of  his  accept- 
ance with  his  heavenly  Father.  He  tendered  his  resigna- 
tion of  the  office  of  President  m  July,  1856,  and  retired  to  a 
residence  distant  some  twelve  miles  from  Oxford,  where  he 
proposed  to  spend  the  evening  of  his  days  in  tranquil  re- 
tirement. In  this,  however,  he  was  destined  to  be  disap- 
pointed, as  on  the  25th  of  November,  1857,  he  was  elected 
President  of  the  South  Carolina  College,  and  after  two  years 
spent  there,  was  compelled  to  abandon  the  office  and  retire 
to  private  life  by  the  revulsion  of  public  affairs  consequent 
upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war.  After  the  close  of 
the  strife  he  returned  to  Oxford,  and  ended  his  days  in  the 
midst  of  his  family  and  his  many  friends  on  the  9th  of  July, 
1870,  aged  seventy-nine  years  nine  months  and  eighteen 
days,  leaving  as  a  precious  legacy  to  his  descendants  a  spot- 
less reputation  and  the  example  of  a  transcendently  noble  life. 

Of  another  of  my  revered  and  beloved  colleagues  of  the 
fii'st  Faculty  of  the  University  of  ]\Iississippi  I  proj^ose  to 
give  my  reminiscences  as  a  part  of  the  history  of  the  insti- 
tution.    I  allude  to 

Professor  John  Millington,  M.  D. 
An  Englishman  by  birth  and  education,  he  had  already 


278  John  N.  W.\ddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

attained  advanced  age  at  the  time  of  his  election  to  the 
chair  of  Chemistry  and  Natural  Philosophy  in  the  "Univer- 
sity. I  remember,  on  an  occasional  intervicvs^  of  the  Faculty 
soon  after  the  opening  of  the  first  session,  a  proposal  being 
made  that  each  should  state  his  age,  Dr.  Milhngton  claimed 
to  be  sixty  years  of  age.  He  was  reared  in  London,  and  he 
%\-as  the  associate  and  pupil  of  the  celebrated  chemist,  Fara- 
da}',  and  an  associate  of  McAdam,  the  road-maker,  and  other 
distinguished  savants  of  that  j)eriod,  being  himself  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Royal  Society.  He  -was  profoundly  versed  in  the 
science  of  Mathematics  and  its  applications  to  civil  en- 
gineering and  his  own  professional  departments.  He  had 
pubhshed  a  work  on  ]\Iechanics  and  one  on  Civil  Engineer- 
ing. He  came  to  the  New  "World,  as  I  have  heard  from  his 
own  lips,  to  act  as  superintendent  of  the  interests  of  an  Eng- 
lish company  in  the  mines  of  Mexico,  and  after  some  years 
sj^ent  there  he  came  to  the  United  States,  and  in  1835  he 
was  made  Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Natural  Philosophy 
in  the  College  of  William  and  IMary,  in  Virginia.  He  occu- 
pied that  chair  for  twelve  years,  and  left  it  to  accept  the 
same  chair  in  the  "University  of  Mississippi  in  1848.  Dr. 
Millington  was  in  temperament  a  child  of  nature,  full  of 
"  the  milk  of  human  kindness  " ;  guileless  and  a  stranger  to 
malice  and  envy;  and  his  was  a  character  of  the  utmost 
simplicity  and  honesty.  Conscious  of  no  fraud  or  deceit  in 
himself,  he  sus^occted  none  in  others.  Faithful  and  just  in 
the  discharge  of  duty  and  in  the  fulfillment  of  his  relative 
and  j^ersonal  obligations,  he  never  indulged  in  charging 
others  with  any  deficiency  of  these  qualities  until  he  fell  a 
victim,  as  he  sometimes  did,  in  dealings  with  men,  to  the 
unscrupulous  and  unprincipled.  Even  then  he  was  disj^osed 
to  forgive,  full  of  that  charity  that  "  thinkcth  no  e^sil"  and 
"  covereth  a  multitude  of  sins."  He  took  for  granted  that 
men  were  what  they  professed  to  be. 

He  was  wholly  devoid  of  any  disciplinary  ability,  and  yet 


Prof.  Albert  Taylor  Bledsoe,  279 

such  was  the  universal  Iotg  and  respect  with  which  he  in- 
spired liis  pupils,  that  he  had  no  diiliculty  of  controlUng 
them.  A  member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  he 
was  devout  without  bigotry,  and  while  consistently  devoted 
to  his  own  church,  never  ostracised  others. 

He  remained  connected  with  the  University  during  the 
first  five  years  of  its  existence,  when  he  resigned  to  accept 
the  chair  of  Chemistry  and  Toxicology  in  the  Medical  Col- 
lege of  Memphis.     Here  he  resided  until  the  civil  war  be- 
gan.    He  had  possessed  himself  of   a  most  beautiful  and 
romantic  home   in  the   quiet  little   village  of   La  Grange, 
Tenn. — fit  retreat  for  a  sage  in  the  decline  of  life — and  here 
he  fondly  hoped  to  close  the  evening  of  a  long  and  labori- 
ous life  in  peace.     But  he  was  doomed  to  a  sad  disappoint- 
ment of  his  cherished  hopes.     La  Grange  became  one  of 
the  points  of  permanent  occupancy  by   the   army   of   the 
United  States,  and,  although  he  complied  with  all  the  re- 
quirements of  the  government,  and  availed  himself  of  all 
legal   means  of   protection  for  himself,  his  family  and  his 
property,  which  were  offered  to  him  by  the  authorities  of 
the  United  States,  yet  all  this  availed  him  nothing.     He  was 
robbed,  his  lovely  home  was  despoiled  by  the  ruthless  rav- 
ages of  war,  and  to  avoid  these  intoleral^le  evils  he  removed 
to  Philadelphia.     There  he  resided  until  the  close  of  the 
war,   and,  subsequently,  took  up  his  abode  in  Richmond,, 
Va.,  w^here  he  closed  his  life,  being,  as  reported,  eighty-nine 
years  of  age.     ^Vhen  he  closed  his  career  in  death,  one  of 
the  kindest,   gentlest  and  truest  hearts  that  ever  warmed 
human  bosom  ceased  to  throb. 

Albert  Taylor  Bledsoe,  LL.  D. 

At  the  time  of  his  election  to  the  chair  of  Mathematics 
and  Astronomy  in  the  University  he  was  a  citizen  of  Spring- 
field, 111.,  in  the  practice  of  law.  He  was  born  in  Kentucky 
in  1808.     He  was  appointed  to  a  cadetship  in  the  Militar}'- 


^80  John  IT.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

Academy  at  "\Vest  Point  iu  1825,  at  the  age  of  seventeen, 
and  he  was  graduated  in  1830.  He  was  in  the  mihtaiy  ser- 
vice of  the  United  States  two  years,  and  then  resigned.  At 
West  Point  he  received  his  scholastic,  as  well  as  his  military 
training.  Here  also  he  enjo^-ed  the  great  privilege  of  attend- 
ing the  chaplaincy  of  Rev.  Charles  P.  Mcllvaine,  afterwards 
Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Ohio,  and  who  was  so  highly  es- 
tieemed  and  beloved  by  all  the  evangelical  churches  of  the 
country.  I  learned  from  himself  that  at  a  time  of  a  religi- 
ous interest  which  occurred  during  Dr.  M's  term  of  ser- 
vice as  chaplain,  he  made  a  j)ublic  profession  of  religion. 
Of  this  noble  minister  of  Christ  I  have  often  heard  Profes- 
sor Bledsoe  speak  in  terms  of  unqualified  admiration  and 
esteem.  I  have  always  heard  that  he  became  a  minister  in 
the  Episcopal  Church,  and  served  in  that  capacity  somo 
jears.  In  1833  hs  became  Professor  of  Mathematics  in 
Kenyon  College,  in  Grambier,  Ohio;  thence,  after  ser\dng 
two  years,  he  was  transferred  to  the  same  chair  in  Miami 
University,  and  from  1840  to  1848,  he  practiced  law  as 
above  stated  in  Springfield,  111.  He  was  elected  to  the  chair 
of  Mathematics  and  Astronomy  in  the  University  of  Missis- 
sippi in  1848,  and  in  1854  he  was  elected  to  the  chair  of 
Mathematics  in  the  University  of  Virginia. 

AVith  regard  to  his  qualifications  as  a  mathematician, 
I  have  never  heard  him  represented  otherwise  than  as  an 
accomplished  master  of  that  department.  My  impression, 
formed  from  my  association  with  him  for  several  years,  is 
that  he  did  not  find  his  highest  interest  and  congenial  en- 
joyment in  that  branch  of  exact  science.  I  have  heard  him 
say  that  he  regarded  theology  as  the  c[ueen  of  sciences, 
metaphysics  her  hand-maiden,  and  mathematics  next  iu  rank. 

In  1845  he  had  published  a  work,  the  title  of  which  was 
"An  Examination  of  President  Edwards  on  the  Will,"  pub- 
lished in  1845,  of  which  work  I  have  seen  but  one  copy,  and 
as  I  did  not  read  that,  I  can  give  no  report  of  the  character 


Albert  Taylor  Bledsoe,  LL.  D.  2 SI 

of  its  contents.  In  1855  or  '56  he  published  another  work, 
much  larger,  to  which  was  given  the  title  of  "Theodicy, 
or  Vindication  of  the  Divine  Glor}-,"  and  an  "Essay  on 
Liberty  and  Slavery."  The  design  of  die  "  Theodicy"  was 
to  vindicate  the  justice  of  God  in  permitting,  or  ordaining, 
natural  and  moral  evil  in  the  world.  It  w-as,  I  remember, 
also  among  the  aims  of  the  author,  often  expressed,  so  to 
characterize  the  system  of  Scripture  doctrine  as  to  avoid 
the  extremes  of  High  Calvinism  on  the  one  hand,  and  that 
of  Arminiauism  on  the  other. 

In  1851  he  was  elected  to  the  chair  of  Mathematics  in 
the  University  of  Virginia,  which  became  vacant  by  the 
death  of  Professor  Edward  Courtenay,  and  thus  he  closed 
his  term  of  service  in  the  ^'Diversity  of  Mississippi.  This 
position  he  continued  to  fill  until  the  occui'rence  of  the  war 
in  1861. 

During  a  part  of  the  time  of  the  continuance  of  hostili- 
ties he  held  the  office  of  Assistant  Secretary  of  War.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  he  visited  Europe;  and  on  his  return 
he  established  himself  in  Baltimore  as  editor  of  the  South- 
em  JReview,  having  as  an  associate  editor,  William  Hande 
Browne,  who  held  this  position  from  its  inauguration  in 
1867  to  January,  1869.  Professor  Edward  Stern  then 
joined  Professor  Bledsoe  for  one  year.  In  1871  the  lleviti'-> 
began  to  appear  as  the  accredited  organ  of  the  Methodist 
EpiscojDal  Church  South,  and  was,  in  some  sense,  under  its 
auspices.  But  the  Jievieio  was  still  pubUshed  in  Baltimore, 
and  Professor  Bledsoe,  as  its  editor,  received  a  salary. 
After  several  unexpected  changes  in  the  location  of  the  office 
of  pubhcation,  from  Baltimore  to  St.  Louis,  and  thence  to 
Nashville,  he  became  the  sole  manager,  and  it  was  kept  in 
existence  under  the  management  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Her- 
rick,  "who  was  his  associate  editor  and  business  manager  for 
three  years,  and  sole  editor  for  one  year,  as  his  health  began 
to  fail.     The   account  of  his  last   days,    furnished   by  his 


282  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

dang'liter,  ]\Irs.  Herrick,  of  New  Jersey,  is  full  of  interest  to 
{survivors  who  knew  liim  in  the  days  of  his  physical  and  in- 
tellectual vigor.  It  was  well  known  that  he  "loved  Po- 
lemics; that  he  had  a  love  of  truth  that  "was  very  strong. 
This,  with  his  fearlessness  of  temper,  and  his  intolerance  of 
humbug'  and  cant,  made  his  life  a  stormy  one.  But  there 
was  a  marked  change  in  the  last  three  years  of  his  life.  His 
whole  nature  was  softened  and  mellowed,  and  while  losing 
none  of  the  unwavering'  faith  and  fiery  ardor  that  had 
always  characterized  him,  he  became  more  gentle  and  for- 
bearing. He  was  stricken  with  a  slight  attack  of  paralysis 
while  sitting  in  old  Christ  church,  Alexandria,  listening  to 
an  evangehst,  on  the  9th  of  November,  1877.  His  illness 
"was  creeping  paralysis,  and  one  faculty  after  another  seemed 
to  go  down,  till  at  last  he  slept  his  life  away,  surrounded  by 
his  wife  and  all  of  his  children,  in  full  Christian  faith." 

My  last  interview  with  him  occurred  in  November,  1877, 
about  the  time  of  his  slight  attack  of  paralysis  to  which 
Mrs.  H.  refers  above.  I  was  in  attendance  on  the  sessions 
of  the  Synod  of  Virginia,  in  Alexandria,  as  Secretary  of  the 
Assembly's  Committee  of  Education.  I  took  tea  with  him 
at  the  residence  of  his  son-in-law,  Eev.  Dr.  Dinwiddie.  On 
that  occasion  I  found  him  as  genial,  and  as  full  of  humor 
and  pleasantry  as  ever,  and  with  the  exception  of  a  scarcely 
perceptible  halting  of  his  footstep,  no  change  was  observable. 

Frederick  Augustus  Porter  Barnard,  LL.  D.,  D.  D. 
In  the  year  1851,  on  the  resignation  of  Prof.  Bledsoe,  Dr. 
F.  A.  P.  Barnard  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacant  chair  of 
Mathematics  and  Astronomy.  He  had  been  filling  various 
positions  of  honor  and  usefulness  from  his  early  manhood, 
and  always  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  those  for  whom  his 
labors  were  performed.  Born  in  the  village  of  Sheffield, 
Mass.,  on  May  5,  1£09,  he  was  graduated  from  Yale  Col- 
lege, second  in  his  class,  in  1828.     His  life-work  was  that  of 


Fkedekick  a.  p.  Baknakd,  LL.  D.,  D.  D.  283 

an  educator,  and  his  fii*st  field  of  labor  was  in  the  Hartford 
Grammar  School  soon  after  his  graduation.  In  1830  he 
•was  appointed  tutor  in  Yale  College.  He  served  two  years 
in  that  capacity,  and  subsequently  he  served  in  two  Asylums 
for  Deaf  Mutes,  successivel}'  in  the  cities  of  Hartford  and 
New  York.  From  1837  to  1818  he  served  in  the  Faculty  of 
the  University  of  Alabama  as  Professor  of  Mathematics  and 
Natural  Philosophy.  From  1848  to  1854  he  filled  the  chair 
of  Chemistry  in  the  same  Faculty.  He  was  then  made  a 
minister  in  the  Episcopal  Chui'ch,  and  in  1854,  soon  after 
that  event,  as  above  stated,  he  was  elected  to  the  chair  of 
Mathematics  and  Astronomy  in  the  University  of  Missis- 
sippi. On  the  resignation  of  President  Longstreet,  Dr. 
Barnard  was  elected  to  succeed  him,  in  1856.  In  the  ca- 
pacity of  presiding  officer,  first  under  the  title  of  President, 
and  then  of  Chancellor,  he  served  the  University  until  the 
breaking  out  of  "the  war  between  the  States."  As  was  the 
case  in  most  southern  institutions  of  learning,  scholastic  ex- 
ercises were  suspended,  and  many  of  the  students  volun- 
teered as  soldiers,  under  the  name  of  "The  University 
Grays,"  and  President  Barnard  resigned,  and  returned  to 
the  North.  He  was  appointed  to  a  position  in  the  National 
Coast  Survey,  and  resided  in  Washington  city.  He  held 
that  position  for  a  short  time,  and  in  1864  he  was  called  to 
the  Presidency  of  Columbia  College,  in  the  city  of  New 
York.  He  had  been  heard  to  say  while  in  the  occuj)ancy  of 
the  Professorship  in  the  University  of  Mississippi  that  he 
would  "prefer  the  office  of  President  of  Columbia  College 
to  any  other  in  the  United  States."  This  office  he  held  in 
active  service  for  twent^'-four  years,  and  in  1888,  although 
he  ceased  to  act,  he  was  nominally  President  still,  until 
1889,  when  he  died,  on  Saturday,  the  28th  of  Aj)ril,  lack- 
ing just  one  week  of  the  completion  of  the  eightieth  year 
of  his  age,  having  devoted  his  time,  talents,  and  learning 
to  the  actual  business  of  education  and  the  promotion  of 


284  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

scientific  knowledge  during  the  long  period  of  more  than 
sixty  years. 

Dr.  Barnard  ^-as  a  man  of  yast  learning,  and  was  among 
the  foremost  of  the  great  scientific  men  of  this  age.  ^\Tiile 
at  the  Uniyersity  of  Mississippi  the  minute  details  of  college 
management  and  discipline  ^vere  so  exacting  as  to  preclude 
the  possibility-  of  his  deyoting  much  time  to  the  interests  of 
science  on  its  broader  theatre.  He  was  not  by  nature  a 
■disciplinarian,  and  although  greatly  esteemed,  he  was  not 
successful  in  the  line  of  government.  I  was  associated  with 
him  but  one  year  during  his  presidency,  and  I  well  remem- 
ber that  the  session  referred  to  closed  with  a  number  in  ac- 
tual attendance  less  by  about  one  hundred  than  that  wdth 
which  it  opened.  I  do  not  think  that  he  felt  that  the  prac- 
tical work  of  goyerning  j^oung  men  was  at  all  in  accordance 
"with  his  ta,stes,  and  he  no  doubt  would  have  found  his 
library  and  his  apparatus  to  furnish  a  far  more  congenial 
atmosphere  than  the  lectiu'e  or  recitation-room,  where  he 
should  meet  a  body  of  young  students.  Still,  admitting 
this  to  bo  true,  few  men  of  the  present  age  can  show  such  a 
record  of  grand  achievements  in  the  wide  field  of  literary 
and  scientific  labor  as  Dr.  Barnard  has  left  behind  him. 
■Some  have  censured  him  for  leaving  the  South  at  the  open- 
ing of  the  war  of  the  States ;  but  while,  of  course,  we  did 
not,  and  could  not,  sympathize  with  him  in  his  preferences, 
at  the  same  time  who  of  the  many  critics  of  Dr.  Barnard, 
placed  in  his  circumstances,  would  have  felt  and  acted 
differently  ?  It  was  reported,  with  what  foundation  I  never 
knew,  that  he  used  all  possible  influence  with  the  authori- 
ties of  the  invading  army  under  General  Grant  to  prevail 
upon  them  to  prevent  the  soldiers  from  destroying  the  Uni- 
versity propert}-  when  they  took  possession  of  Oxford  in 
1862.  Be  that  as  it  may,  it  is  a  fact  that  the  fine  appoint- 
ments of  the  Observatoiy,  the  collections,  cabinets,  and  in- 
etrumeuts,  and  the  hbraries,  with  the  buildings,  w^ere  less 


Fkedeeick  a.  p.  Bakxaed,  LL.  D.,  D.  D.  285 

disturbed  and  molested  by  the  northern  army  than  those  of 
many  other  Southern  colleges ;  indeed,  little  or  no  damage 
Avas  inflicted  upon  the  institution  by  the  soldieiy.  Let  jus- 
tice be  meted  out  to  Dr.  Barnard  in  view  of  all  that  he  was 
instrumental  in  effecting  in  the  way  of  scientific  and  literary 
work. 

He  raised  Columbia  College  from  the  status  of  "a 
highly  respectable  and  old-fashioned  "  American  institution 
to  the  rank  of  a  "modern  university."  The  following  ex- 
tract, written  since  his  death,  and  published  in  the  journals 
of  the  time,  will  demonstrate  his  successful  work  truly  and 
briefly  -. 

"  Under  President  Barnard's  regime,  the  college  proper, 
the  Academic  Department,  doubled  its  strength,  and  more 
than  doubled  its  usefulness  ;  but  this  department  has  been 
overshadowed  by  the  development  of  the  University  schools, 
which  have  gTown  up  about  it."  And  while  it  is  true  that 
"  The  School  of  Mines  "  was  in  existence  when  he  entered 
upon  the  presidency,  yet  it  is  stated  by  the  same  writer 
that  "where,  in  1864,  less  than  thirty  students  pursued 
their  studies  in  a  cellar,  this  school  has  grown,  largely 
through  President  Barnard's  fostering  care,  into  one  of  the 
largest,  best  equipped,  and  most  celebrated  schools  of  ap- 
pHed  science  in  the  world."  Besides  all  this,  "the  law 
school  has  quadrupled  in  numbers"  and  efficiency.  The 
medical  school  is  also  part  of  the  system,  and  the  higher 
education  of  women  is  to  be  provided  for  by  the  estabhsh- 
ment  of  an  annex— the  Barnard  College  for  Women."  Ac- 
cording to  a  recent  catalogue  of  the  college,  there  were  in 
the  various  faculties  connected  with  it  more  than  one  him- 
dred  professors  and  assistants,  and  something  like  sixteen 
hundred  students. 

It  is  a  touching  incident  related  in  regard  to  his  funeral. 
After  the  most  impressive  pubHc  services  had  been  con- 
ducted by  the  authorities  of  the  college  and  church  in  New 


286  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

York,  his  remains  were  borne  to  his  native  village,  Sheffield, 
and  buried  there,  after  funeral  service  had  been  held  in  the 
the  little  chui'ch  which  had  been  used  by  him  in  his  earlier 
years  as  his  law  office. 

''He  was  the  author  of  various  scientific  and  educational 
books.  The  degree  of  LL.  D.  was  conferred  upon  him  in 
1844,  by  Jefferson  College,  and  four  years  later  by  Yale; 
the  degree  of  D.  D.,  by  the  University  of  Mississippi;  that 
of  L.  H.  D.,  by  the  New  York  University ;  of  D.  C.  L.,  by 
King's  College,  Canada.  It  is  said  by  the  writer  from 
whom  I  have  drawn  these  facts,  that  while  "  no  man  is  in- 
dispensable, yet  Dr.    B.  was  not  one  of  the  men  who  are 

easily   replaced It  will   be  hard  indeed   to  fill   the 

j)lace  which  his  death  leaves  vacant." 

The  following  statement  is  copied  from  the  yew  York 
Observer : 

"  Columbia  College  has  received  a  valuable  bequest  from 
its  late  President.  Dr.  Barnard  left  it  all  his  property,  ex- 
cept a  few  personal  legacies.  His  valuable  collection  of 
microscopes  has  been  given  to  the  School  of  Mines;  his  en- 
tire librar}',  which  had  been  selected  with  great  care,  has 
been,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  books  retained  by  Mrs. 
Barnard,  added  to  the  College  library.  Ten  thousand  dol- 
lars have  been  set  apart  for  helping  scientific  research. 
The  bulk  of  the  estate  is  to  go  to  the  College  library,  and  to 
endow  a  fund  to  j^erpetuate  the  founder's  name,  Mrs.  Bar- 
nard receiving  the  interest  while  she  lives.  The  fund  is  ex- 
j)ected  to  reach  the  sum  of  $50,000." 


CHAPTER   XX. 

Bkief  Sketches  of  IMembeks  of  the  Chartered  Board. 

THE  original  chartered  Board  of  Trustees  consisted  of 
thirteen,  T^'ho  -^ere  elected  by  the  State  Senate,  upon 
the  general  principle  of  representation  of  various  sections  of 
the  State,  so  as  to  interest  the  Tvhole  of  the  citizens  as  far  as 
possible  in  the  University,  allowing  three  to  the  town  of  Ox- 
ford, as  the  selected  site  of  the  institution.  The  list  will  be 
found  on  a  preceding  j)age,  and  a  brief  sketch  of  each  will 
be  here  given ; 

1.  Hon.  J.  A.  Ventress,  from  Woodville,  Miss.,  was  a  gen- 
tleman of  scholarly  attainments,  and  was  educated  in  Ger- 
many. 

2.  Hon.  John  Anthony  Quitman  was  born  in  New^  York, 
and  won  the  enviable  reputation  of  being  universally  re- 
garded one  of  Mississippi's  noblest  public  men.  He  was  a 
distinguished  lawyer,  and  a  prominent  leader  in  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  equally  distinguished  in  the  Mexican  war, 
and  always  a  devoted  friend  of  the  University. 

3.  Hon.  Willia:,i  L.  Sharkey  needs  only  to  be  named  in 
any  company  of  Mississippians  to  secure  the  homage  of  ad- 
miration and  respect  for  him  as  a  profound  jurist  and  a 
large-hearted,  high-toned  nobleman  of  nature. 

4.  Hon.  E.  C.  Wilkinson,  eminent  as  a  lawyer,  a  judge, 
and  a  publicist.  I  cannot  dismiss  this  name  without  recall- 
ing a  fact  illustrative  of  his  character  as  a  gentleman  of 
high  and  generous  principles  and  motives  of  action.  By 
reference  to  his  course,  as  recorded  on  a  preceding  page  in 
the  discussion  of  the  College  curriculum,  and  the  other  pre- 
liminaries needful  to  be  settled  in  order  to  a  proper  order- 

287 


288  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D-.,  LL.  D. 

ing  and  arrangement  of  the  future  career  of  the  University 
as  an  institution  of  the  higher  learning,  it  will  be  brought 
to  mind  that  Judge  ATilkinson  boldly  and  earnestly  assumed 
the  position — first,  that  the  Evidences  of  Christianity  should 
be  excluded  from  the  course  of  study;  second,  that  no  Pro- 
fessorship should  be  filled  by  a  clergyman  of  any  denomina- 
tion. When  the  Board  decided  against  his  views  in  both  of 
these  particulars,  he  openly  declared  that  he  should  cease 
to  feel  interested  in  the  Universit}',  and  it  was  supposed 
that  ho  would  never  appear  on  the  campus  in  the  ofiicial  ca- 
pacity of  a  trustee;  but  as  the  University  became  highly 
prosperous  and  universally  popular,  he  was  present  during 
a  Commencement  occasion,  and  in  zealous  discharge  of  his 
duties  as  a  trustee,  having  abandoned  his  opposition,  and  in 
the  most  candid  manner  acknowledged  that  he  was  in  error. 
In  a  pleasant  interview  with  him,  he  remarked  to  me  that 
lie  regarded  the  prosperity  of  the  institution  as  resulting 
from  the  fact  that,  of  its  Faculty,  the  ministers  were  the 
most  useful  and  efficient  instruments. 

5.  Col.  John  J.  McCaughan  figured  largely  in  the  finan- 
cial history  of  Mississippi.  He  was  a  pronounced  infidel, 
and  resigned  his  membership  of  the  Board  because  of  their 
action  in  connecting  religion  and  its  ministers  with  its  prac- 
tical system. 

6.  Bev.  F.  L.  Hawks,  D.  D.,  was  a  polished  scholar,  a  re- 
fined Christian  gentleman,  an  eloquent  orator.  He  was  a 
distinguished  minister  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  author 
of  a  history  of  Xorth  Carolina.  He  was  once  a  resident  of 
Holly  Sj^rings,  and  a  nominal  presiding  officer  of  a  classical 
academy  in  that  town,  and  afterwards  was  called  to  a  church 
in  New  York.  He  was  made  a  Bishop,  but  died  without  en- 
tering upon  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  office. 

7.  Hon.  A.  H.  Pegues  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  and  for 
many  years  was  prominent  in  the  councils  of  the  State  of 
Mississippi  as  a  Senator.     He  served  the  University  with 


Trustees  of  the  Univeesity.  289 

marked  Udelity  as  a  trustee  for  sixteen  years.  He  was  a 
citizen  of  the  county  of  Lafayette,  and  held  a  high  place  in 
the  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens  on  account  of  his  patriotic 
devotion  to  the  true  interests  of  his  country.  He  passed 
away  universally  lamented,  in  the  full  communion  of  the 
Episcopal  Church, 

8.  Hon.  WiLLiArsi  Y.  Gholson  was  appointed  by  the  Senate 
a  trustee  from  Aberdeen,  Miss.,  but  removed  from  the  State- 
at  an  early  period,  and  died  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 

9.  Hon.  Alexander  M.  Clayton,  as  I  learn  from  a  memo-- 
rial  card  published  after  his  death,  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
January  10,  1801,  and  died  in  Benton  county,  Miss.,  Sep- 
tember 30,  1889,  in  his  eighty-ninth  year.  He  had  been  a 
devoted  faithful  public  servant  of  his  country  in  many  ca- 
pacities from  his  early  manhood.  He  was  a  judge  in  Ar- 
kansas when  it  was  a  Territory;  then,  successively.  Justice 
of  the  High  Court  of  Errors  and  Ap^^eals  of  Mississipjoi  for 
nine  years ;  Consul  to  Havana  under  President  Pierce ; 
drafted  the  Secession  ordinance  when  Mississippi  severed 
her  connection  with  the  United  States ;  Confederate  States 
judge  under  appointment  of  President  Davis.  After  the 
war  between  the  States  he  was  elected  judge  to  the  Circuit 
Court,  and  served  in  that  office  until  he  was  removed  by 
Governor  Ames,  during  the  times  of  the  reconstruction  of 
Mississippi  and  the  other  Southern  States. 

Judge  Clayton  was  always  a  devoted  friend  of  the  Uni- 
versity, and  was  always  present  at  its  meetings,  anxious  and 
zealous  for  its  welfare.  He  was  for  some  jeavs  previous  to 
his  death  one  of  the  two  surviving  members  of  the  char- 
tered Board  of  Trustees,  the  other  being  myself.  We  mei 
in  Oxford  at  the  Commencement  of  1889,  and  within  three 
months  thereafter,  "when  the  summons  came,  he  laid  his 
burden  down,  and,  in  the  peacefulness  of  the  hope  of  a  glo~ 
rious  resurrection,  passed  through  death  to  immortal  life." 
Eull  of  years,  he  was  laid  in  his  grave,  without  a  spot  upon 
19 


290  John  N.  AVaddel,  D.  T>.,  LL.  D. 

the  brightness  of  his  honor,  and  lamented  by  all  who  knew 
him. 

10.  Hon.  Jacob  Thompson  was  born  in  North  Carolina, 
and  was  graduated  from  the  University  of  that  State  at 
Chapel  Hill.  He  held  the  office  of  tutor  in  that  institution, 
but  removed  at  a  comparatively  early  age  to  Mississippi,  and 
established  himself  as  an  attorney  at  law  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  State,  and  spent  many  jesus  of  his  life  in  the 
town  of  Oxford ;  w^as  an  active  trustee  until  his  removal  to 
Memphis,  in  1864.  During  his  residence  in  Mississippi, 
and  his  membership  of  the  Board,  he  was  active,  zealous, 
and  devoted  to  the  duties  of  trustee.  He  was  long  a  mem- 
ber of  Congress,  and  was  Secretary  of  the  Interior  in  Mr. 
Buchanan's  cabinet.  He  was  singled  out  as  an  arch-rebel 
by  the  Federal  government,  and  charged  by  the  voice  of 
public  sentiment  of  the  North  with  many  accusations  of 
treason  and  disloyalty,  which  w^ere  utterly  false,  and  origi- 
nated from  the  extreme  madness  and  ignorance  of  the  peo- 
ple, as  well  as  the  unscrupulous  malignity  of  the  party  in 
power.  Mr.  Thompson  spent  his  last  years  in  Memphis,  in 
private  life,  possessed  of  great  wealth,  and  passed  away 
among  devoted  friends,  and  surrounded  by  his  own  family, 
after  having  reached  more  than  the  allotted  period  of  hu- 
man life,  threescore  and  ten  years.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Episcopal  Church  for  many  years  before  his  death,  and 
died  in  that  communion. 

11.  Of  Pryor  Lea,  Esq.,  so  little  is  known  to  me  that  I 
am  only  able  to  state  that  he  resided  in  Jackson,  and  I  think 
he  was  a  practitioner  of  law.  He  resigned  his  j)lace  on  the 
Board  in  1846. 

12.  Hon.  James  M.  Howry  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  his 
birth-place  being  Botetourt  Courthouse,  and  the  time  of  his 
birth  being  August  4,  1804.  He  resided  in  early  life  in 
Nashville,  Tenn. ;  he  settled  in  Oxford,  Miss.,  in  1836,  and 
was  elected  circuit  judge  of  that  District  in  1841  over  two 


Teustees  of  the  University.  291 

distinguished  competitors.  He  practiced  law,  after  leading 
the  bench,  in  Oxford,  until  the  year  1860,  when  he  retired, 
with  a  handsome  fortune.  Like  many  other  fortunes,  this 
was  swejDt  away  by  the  rude  hand  of  war  throughout  the 
South.  He  was  one  of  the  original  chartered  Board  of 
Trustees  in  1844,  and  he  served  the  University  vdth.  great 
fidelity  for  more  than  a  quarter  century;  he  served  the 
people  in  both  branches  of  the  Legislature.  He  died  at  his 
home,  in  Oxford,  on  April  15,  1884,  in  his  eightieth  year. 
He  was  an  eminent  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and 
an  elder  of  the  Cumberland  Presbj'terian  church.  His  end 
w^as  peace. 


CHAPTEK   XXL 

Financial  History. 

SOMETHING  more  minute  in  detail  in  reference  to  the 
financial  history  of  the  University  than  has  thus  far 
been  recorded  is  now  in  order,  if  the  true  state  of  the  case 
is  to  be  known.  I  premise  by  stating  that  my  authorities 
on  this  subject  are  found  in  the  Journals  of  Congress  of 
1819  ;  in  Hutchinson's  Mississippi  Code  from  1798  to  1848; 
and  in  a  message  of  the  Hon.  John  J.  McCrae,  Governor  of 
Mississi^Dpi,  addressed  to  the  Legislature  on  February  6, 
1856.  From  these  sources  the  following  facts  have  been 
gathered,  viz. :  Li  accordance  W'ith  an  act  of  Congress  of 
February  20,  1819,  a  township  of  public  land  was  granted 
to  the  State  of  Mississippi  for  the  express  purpose  of  estab- 
lishing a  seminary  of  learning;  that  the  right  should  be 
vested  in  the  Legislature,  in  trust,  for  this  purpose ;  that 
the  Legislature  accepted  the  trust ;  that  after  the  selection 
of  the  lands,  w4iich  was  judiciously  made,  the  State  pur- 
sued the  policy  of  leasing  them  until  March,  1833,  at  which 
time  an  act  of  the  Legislature  was  passed,  providing  for  the 
sale  of  the  thirty-six  sections ;  that  the  sale  was  made  in 
1833,  on  one,  two  and  three  years'  time,  and  the  notes  were 
made  ^^ayable  on  November  1,  1834,  1835  and  1836,  re- 
spectively. The  next  legislation  in  regard  to  this  fund, 
which  is  of  importance,  is  that  recorded  in  the  eleventh 
section  of  ''An  Act  for  the  Collection  and  Investment  of 
the  Seminary  Fund,"  whereby  it  is  made  the  "duty  of  the 
State  Treasurer  to  credit  the  University  Fund  with  interest 
at  the  rate  of  five  per  cent,  per  annum,  upon  all  moneys 
heretofore  paid  into  the  treasury,  from  the  time  when  so 

292 


Financial  History.  293 

paid  to  the  passage  of  the  act;  and,  thereafter,  to  credit 
said  fund  with  interest  at  the  rate  of  eight  per  cent,  per 
annum  upon  all  moneys  due  from  the  State  to  said  Fund." 

UjDon  this  subject  there  has  been  a  great  deal  of  discus- 
sion and  feeling  on  the  part  of  many,  and  the  question  has 
been  extensively  debated  even  of  late  years.  It  will  be  my 
object,  under  this  state  of  the  case,  to  record  only  the  facts 
of  history,  together  with  their  natural  and  legitimate  infer- 
ences. Accordingly,  it  is  a  well-known  fact  that,  after  the 
sale  of  these  lands,  and  during  the  crisis  consequent  upon 
the  wild  and  reckless  financial  management  of  the  State, 
very  nearly  all  the  proceeds  of  these  sales  were  lost,  the  rem- 
nant saved  from  the  wreck  amounting  to  less  than  two  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars ! 

Again,  I  quote  next  from  the  message  of  His  Excellency, 
Governor  McEae  in  1856,  these  words,  viz. :  "  By  applying 
the  rule  laid  down  in  this  law  to  the  ascertainment  of  the 
condition  of  the  fund  on  the  1st  of  January,  1856,  it  is  dis- 
covered that  the  sum  due  from  the  State  to  the  Uni- 
versity Fund  was  at  that  time  $1,077,790.07.  The  Governor 
then  proceeds  to  deduct  the  appropriations  made  from  time 
to  time  by  the  Legislature  for  the  establishment  and  sup- 
j)ort  of  the  University,  computing  interest  upon  those  ad- 
vances b}'  the  same  rule  as  had  been  followed  in  computing 
interest  upon  the  fund  itself.  The  amount  of  these  appro- 
priations, with  interest  added  as  above  computed,  reached 
the  sum  of  $203,465.58,  which,  deducted  from  $1,077,- 
790.07,  leaves  as  the  actual  sum  due  seventeen  years  ago, 
$874,324.49. 

This  calculation,  I  very  well  remember,  was  made  by  my 
immediate  predecessor.  Dr.  F.  A.  P.  Barnard,  at  that  time 
Professor  of  Mathemadcs,  whose  skill  in  such  calculations 
no  one  ever  doubted.  This  state  of  facts  was  made  to  the 
Legislature,  but  that  body  persistently  refused  to  acknow^ 
ledge  the  indebtedness  of  the  State  to  the  University  to 


294  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

that  amount.  The  utmost  that  could  be  obtained  from  the 
Legislature  was  the  recognition  of  the  sum  of  less  than 
$200,000,  referred  to  above,  on  ^\'hich  the  State  had  been 
paving  interest,  amounting  to  about  $11,500  per  annum. 

From  an  article  contributed  to  a  magazine  in  1856,  pub- 
lished by  the  students  of  the  University,  before  the  waa', 
the  author  of  which,  I  think,  was  not  given  at  the  time 
(yet  known  to  me),  I  quote  the  following,  and  of  the  truth- 
fulness of  its  statements  there  is  no  doubt : 

"  To  the  honor  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  then  in  office,  a 
bill  was  prepared  and  introduced  into  the  State  Senate, 
acknowledging  this  amount,  of  $874,324.49,  as  due  to  the 
University  from  the  State,  when,  forthwith,  opposition  of 
such  a  character  was  manifested  as  to  induce  its  friends  to 
accept  a  poor  substitute,  and  to  withdraw  the  original  tem- 
porarily. The  substitute  passed  the  Senate,  no  one  dissent- 
ing, but  when  it  reached  the  House  it  encountered  a  fierce, 
bitter,  and  almost  malignant  opposition.  After  a  long  and 
arduous  struggle,  however,  it  was  passed  by  that  body  by  a 
majority  of  two,  and  received  the  signature  of  the  Governor. 
The  amount  thus  appropriated,  $20,000  annually,  and  was 
accepted  by  the  Trustees,  ver}'  properly,  under  j)rotest. 
The  Legislature  considered  this  only  as  an  appropriation, 
and  not  by  any  means  an  acknowledgment  that  the  State 
was  under  the  slightest  obligation  to  pay,  either  principal  or 
interest,  of  the  debt  claimed  b}"  the  Trustees.  The  Board, 
on  their  j^art,  did  not  ask  for  on  approjjriation,  they  only 
demanded  the  payment  of  a  just  and  lawful  debt. 

In  my  capacity  of  a  chronicler  of  the  history  of  this  insti- 
tution, I  record,  as  the  next  fact  which  marks  its  financial 
life,  that  since  the  war,  at  a  time  when  the  University  was 
in  great  need,  a  similar  effort  was  made  by  the  Board  of 
Trustees  to  obtain  an  acknowledgment  of  the  States's  in- 
debtedness to  the  institution,  which  was  again  defeated,  and 
in  lieu  thereof,  a  similar  appropriation  of  $20,000  per  annum 


Financial  History.  295 

then  was  nominally  granted.  Duinng  my  term  of  service  as 
Chancellor  a  calculation  was  carefully  prepared  by  my 
esteemed  and  distinguished  colleague,  L.  C.  Garland,  LL.  D., 
at  my  request,  which  makes  the  indebtedness  of  the  State 
to  the  University  at  that  time  over  a  million  and  a  half 
of  dollars,  after  deducting  all  appropriations.  I  may  just 
here  make  the  history  of  this  subject  complete,  in  so  far 
as  my  personal  connection  with  it  is  concerned,  by  stating' 
the  following  fact,  which  occurred  after  the  war,  during  the^ 
mihtary  and  provisional  government  of  Mississippi,  usually 
denominated  in  political  circles  "  The  Carpet-Bag  Dynasty.'* 
During  the  term  of  service  of  the  Hon.  James  L.  Alcorn  as 
Governor,  and  when  the  Legislature  was  overwhelmingly 
"  Radical  "  in  its  political  complexion,  the  affairs  of  the  Uni- 
versity engaged  a  large  share  of  the  attention  of  the  Legis- 
lature, and,  with  other  of  its  interests,  the  material  aid  and 
support  of  its  practical  work  was  much  discussed.  The^ 
Governor  being  a  Southern  man  by  birth  and  interest,  was,, 
in  my  judgment,  a  true  friend  of  the  University,  when 
others  of  different  professions  gave  him  no  credit  for  the- 
possession  of  any  such  feelings.  At  all  events,  he  recom- 
mended to  the  Legislature  the  passage  of  a  bill  appropriat- 
ing the  sum  of  $50,000  annually  for  ten  years  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  University,  and  in  the  body  of  the  act  it  is  care- 
fulty  inserted  that  this  is  in  lieu  of  the  annual  appropriation, 
made  by  law  for  the  adequate  support  of  the  University. 
The  question  was  raised  whether  this  includes  the  $11,500 
annual  interest  on  the  remnant  of  the  debt  saved  out  of  the 
financial  wreck  of  the  original  indebtedness,  which  was  also 
acknowledged  in  1844,  or  whether  it  refers  only  to  the 
$20,000  of  which  the  University  had  been  the  recipient  for 
many  years  by  appropriation.  The  latter  was  undoubtedly 
the  true  and  just  construction  to  be  placed  upon  this  clause 
of  the  act. 

I  have  thus  placed  on  record  so  much  of  the  financial  his- 


296  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

tory  of  the  Universit}'  as  had  actually  been  realized  during* 
the  term  of  my  service  as  Chancellor.  But  a  few  additional 
facts  cognate  to  this  subject  will  be  here  submitted,  in  order 
that  the  whole  may  be  j^i'esented  at  once  and  an  intelligent 
view  may  be  taken  of  the  matter. 

The  appropriation  of  $50,000  per  annum  seemed  at  the 
time  so  ample  for  all  purposes,  and  so  munificent  withal, 
that  at  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  subsequently  a 
resolution  was  passed  by  which  the  tuition  fee  (only  $50) 
"was  abolished,  throwing  the  halls  of  the  University  open  to 
the  free  access  of  all  Mississippi  students.  This,  though 
done  with  the  very  best  intentions,  proved,  in  its  practical 
"working,  to  be  somewhat  disastrous  to  the  finances  of  the 
University. 

To  go  back  a  few  years,  it  is  known  that  previous  to  the 
"war  the  income  from  all  sources  amounted  to  about  $40,000 
in  cash,  and  very  frequently  in  gold.  After  the  war,  for 
.some  years,  the  same  amount  was  generally  realized  from 
the  same  sources,  viz. : 

1.  Interest  of  the  acknowledged  debt $11,500 

2.  Appropriations,  including  Law  Department,. . ..     22,000 

3.  Tuition  fees,  say 8,000 


$41,500 

Now,  although  the  income  had  become  nominally  $50,000, 
it  was  paid  in  State  warrants,  at  a  discount  of  twenty-five  to 
thirty  per  cent.,  the  State  loses  $12,500  to  $15,000  annually; 
so  that  the  $50,000  only  ga^e  to  the  University  $37,500,  and 
often  $35,000,  less  by  $4,000  to  $6,000  than  it  w^as  before  the 
appropriation  had  been  made.  Obviously  thus,  at  that  time, 
the  abolition  of  the  tuition  foe  operated  to  the  damage  of 
the  University. 

A  consideration  has  been  urged  against  the  recognition  of 
the  indebtedness  of  the  State,  and  the  consequent  obhgation 
to  pay  the  annual  interest,  and  that  is,  the  poverty  of  the 


Financial  History.  297 

people.  The  fact  may  be  admitted,  and  yet  the  debt  may 
be  acknowledged.  A  part  was  acknowledged  at  the  outset, 
and  interest  was  regularly  paid  over  to  the  trustees  for 
years.  If  the  State  owed  any  part,  it  owed  the  whole ;  if  it 
be  a  just  debt,  the  State  had  no  right  to  repudiate  one  dol- 
lar of  it  upon  the  simple  plea  of  poverty.  The  whole  debt 
might  long  since  have  been  acknowledged,  and  a  rate  per 
cent,  decided  upon  that  would  have  been  reasonable,  and 
which  the  people  would  have  been  abundantly  able  to  pay. 
Even  four  per  cent,  on  the  entire  amount  would  have  yielded 
$65,000  or  $70,000,  a  sum  amply  sufficient  to  have  met  the 
necessities  of  the  University,  and  entirely  within  the  re- 
sources of  the  great  State  of  Mississippi. 

Let  one  remark  be  added  to  all  that  has  been  written 
thus  far.  The  University  was  not  endowed  by  the  State,  but 
its  endowment  w^as  furnished  by  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States.  The  State,  by  its  Legislatui^e,  is  declared  to  be 
merely  the  trustee  of  the  fund.  It  was  accej)ted  on  the  con- 
dition that  it  was  to  be  managed  for  the  benefit  of  a  semi- 
nary of  learning.  Coming  to  the  facts  of  history,  it  aj)pears 
that  not  even  the  interest  has  been  paid.  It  is,  therefore, 
not  one  of  the  schools  that  are  suiDiDorted  by  taxation  in  the 
proper  sense  of  the  word. 

At  the  close  of  my  administration,  in  IST-I,  the  debt  re- 
mained in  the  same  unrecognized  condition.  It  was,  how*- 
ever,  pressed  ceaselessly  by  the  trustees  upon  the  considera- 
tion of  the  Legislatm'e  ;  and  as  there  Avere  several  prominent 
alumni  of  the  University  members  of  the  Board  and  of  the 
Legislature,  it  is  gratifying  to  learn  that  the  authorities  of 
the  State  were  finally  prevailed  upon  to  acknowledge  the  in- 
debtedness of  the  State  in  the  sum  of  $544,001.23,  l)y  the 
income  of  which  the  institution  is  supported  in  a  manner  far 
more  in  accordance  with  the  claims  of  such  an  establishment 
than  it  has  ever  been  before. 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

Statistical   Statements. 

TO  resume  the  regular  statement  of  the  progress  of  the 
University,  we  may  now  briefly  record  some  of  the  sta- 
tistics connected  with  its  affairs.  It  began  its  prosperous 
career  from  the  auspicious  period  of  the  accession  to  office 
of  the  second  President,  the  eminent  and  beloved  Long- 
street;  for  although  the  number  in  attendance  during  the 
second  session  (which  was  the  first  of  his  administration) 
was  small,  yet  in  all  the  elements  of  true  prosperity,  in  or- 
derly deportment,  diligent  application,  and  successful  intel- 
lectual 2)rogress  on  the  part  of  the  students ;  in  fidelity  and. 
success  on  the  part  of  the  Faculty,  the  institution  was  far  in 
advance  of  its  status  during  the  first  session.  The  patron- 
age of  the  University  during  the  actual  operation  of  its 
work  can  only  be  accounted  for  upon  the  fact  that  the  con- 
fidence of  the  people  of  the  State  had  been  steadily  increas- 
ing. The  following  is  a  condensed  statement  of  the  number 
in  attendance  during  its  successive  sessions.  It  must  be  re- 
membered that  the  Law  Department  was  not  put  into  actual 
operation  until  1854,  and  the  number  of  students  pre^dous 
to  that  year  and  to  the  year  1856-'57  is  credited  only  to  the 
Department  of  Arts.  The  number  of  students  registered 
during  the  first  session,  in 

1848-'49 80 

1849-'50 76 

1850  '51 134 

1851-52 144 

1852-'53 130 

1853-'54 158 

298 


lu  the  Law  Department... 

...10 

...17 

...12 

...13 

...29 

...19 

University  Statistics.  299; 

1854-'5o 173 

185o-'56 225 

1856-'57 264- 

1857-'58 178 

1858-'59 168 

1859-'60 216 

1860-'61 22G 

1861 

This  brings  the  statement  of  patronage  to  the  opening  of 
the  war  in  18G1,  when  the  exercises  of  the  University  were 
suspended  until  October  2,  1865.     During  these  four  disas- 
trous years  the  history  of  the  University  has  Httle  to  attract 
interest.     Professors  Quinche   and   Hilgard  had,  in   some 
nominal  way,  charge  of  the  grounds,  buildings  and  appara- 
tus of  all  kinds.     But  one  fact  may  be  recorded  as  extraor- 
dinary in  the  story  of  similar  invasions  by  a  victorious  foe,, 
and  even  where  the  military  bodies  may  not  be  hostile. 
The  fact  to  which  I  here  allude  is,  that  although  the  large 
body  of  General  Grant's  army  were  encamped  around  Ox- 
ford, on  the  campus,  the  buildings  being  occupied,  to  some 
extent,  by  officers  and  private  soldiers,  for  some  time  during^ 
the  winter  of  1862,  the  amount  of  damage  that  was  done, 
as  the  result  of  this  occupancy,  was  far  less  than  was  appre- 
hended.    True,    some   injury  was  inflicted   upon  the  sur- 
roundings, but  by  the  overruling  kindness  of  Divme  Provi- 
dence in  protecting  the  interests  of  the  University,  it  was 
made  an  exceptional  case,  widely  differing  from  the  fate  of 
other  institutions  of  learning  in  the  South;  as  it  was  more 
frequently  than  otherwise  the  case  that  dire  disaster  fol- 
lowed the  line  of  march  of  the  enemy  wherever  it  led  them 
in  the  neighborhood  of  such  institutions,  from  which,  in  some 
cases,  they  never  recovered.     Accordingly,  when  the  war 
closed,  and  the  foot  of  the  invader  no  longer  trod  the  soil  of 
the  South,  the  University  w^as  found  to  be  almost  intact,  and 
ready  to  pursue  its  assigned  career  as  the  leading  school  of 
the  State  for  the  instruction  of  its  vouth. 


800  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

We  may  resume  the  statistical  statements  by  anticipation 
and  dismiss  tliat  topic. 

The  attendance  in  the  first  session  after  the  close  of  the 
war  was  in 

1865-'6G 193— lu  the  Law  School  — 

1866-67 246  1 

1867-68 231  24 

1868'-'69 214 13 

1869-70 208  15 

1870-71 120  6 

1871-72 260  3 

1872-73 302  11 

1873-74 208  14 

It  will  appear,  from  the  list  just  given,  that  two  of  the 
sessions  show  the  number  in  attendance  to  have  been  under 
t\Yo  hundred,  and  one  of  them  (1870-71)  to  be  exceedingly 
diminished.  This  admits  of  easy  explanation.  The  ses- 
sion during  which  there  were  in  attendance  193  students, 
was  the  first  session  after  the  close  of  the  war,  when  the 
whole  State  was  reduced  to  distressing  poverty,  and  the 
means  of  the  people  at  large  had  been  so  utterly  exhausted 
that  it  could  not  possibly  be  expected  that  the  University 
could  be  very  extensively  patronized.  It  was  indeed  a  most 
gratifying  surprise  to  its  friends  that  the  patronage  attained 
the  high  figures  of  193  at  such  a  time  of  distress  in  its 
pecuniary  condition.  As  to  the  session  of  1870-'71,  the 
small  number,  120,  is  accounted  for  very  easity  and  natu- 
rally from  the  fact  that  it  occurred  during  the  existence  of 
what  is  known  as  the  Provisional  Government  of  the  State, 
or  what  is  more  easily  remembered,  the  "  Carpet-Bag  Gov- 
ernment," when  there  was  a  general  or  widely  extended  ap- 
j)rehension  j^i'e'^ailing  among  the  people  that  colored  stu- 
dents were  to  be  forced  upon  the  University.  This  state  of 
feeling,  however,  did  not  continue  long,  as  the  theor}'  to 
make  the  University  a  mixed  school  was  never  carried  into 
efiect,  so  the  very  next  session  the  number  reached  260. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Changes  and  Additions  in  the  Faculty  from  Time  to  Time. — Dan- 
ville Theological  Seminaey. — Other  Changes  in  the  Coijrsb. 
OF  Study,  and  Other  Facts. 

IN  the  year  1853  occurred  the  first  resignation  of  office  in 
the  Faculty.  Dr.  John  Milhugton,  ^vho  was  Professor  of 
Chemistry  and  Natural  Philosophy  in  the  first  Faculty,  ten- 
dered his  resignation  of  the  offioe,  after  having  held  the 
chair  only  five  years,  during  which  he  had  served  the  Uni- 
versity with  fidelity  and  zeal,  and  established  a  character  of 
unblemished  purity,  and  had  won  the  affections  of  all  who 
had  been  his  associates,  whether  in  the  Faculty,  among  the 
students,  or  in  the  community  around  him.  He  had  been 
called  to  occupy  the  Professorship  of  Chemistry  and  Toxi- 
cology in  the  Memphis  Medical  College,  then  in  its  incipient 
existence.  The  sequel  of  his  life  and  labors  is  given  in  a 
preceding  chapter. 

In  the  succeeding  year  (1854)  Dr.  A.  T.  Bledsoe  resigned 
the  Professorship  of  Mathematics  and  Astronomy,  and  en- 
tered upon  the  duties  of  the  same  chair  in  the  Faculty  of 
the  University  of  Virginia,  succeeding  Professor  Courtenay, 
deceased. 

Dr.  Bledsoe's  vacancy  was  immediately  filled  by  the  elec- 
tion of  F.  A.  P.  Barnard,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  who  was  then  fill- 
ing a  chair  in  the  University  of  Alabama.  Dr.  Barnard  re- 
mained inciunbent  of  this  chair  in  Mississippi  until  1856, 
when  he  was  elected  to  the  Presidency  of  the  University 
upon  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Longstreet.  He  filled  this  po- 
sition as  President  until  1859.  After  this  year  he  served 
under  the  title  of  Chancellor  until  1861,  at  which  time  he 

301 


302  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

resigned  the  i^osition,  ou  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war,  and 
returned  to  the  North,  as  ah-eady  related. 

This  is  the  joroper  ^^lace,  I  think,  to  record  an  event  of 
«ome  interest  and  importance  in  my  life,  and  to  which  I 
sometimes  recur,  as  affording  me  much  honest  gratification. 
I  do  not  believe  that  it  ministered  to  any  increase  of  vanity 
or  self-conceit,  for  the  simple  and  sufficient  reason  that  the 
honor  conferred  was  one  which,  strictly  speaking,  I  did  not 
deserve,  since  my  conscience  assured  me  that,  at  the  time  of 
my  election,  I  was  much  better  qualified  to  teach  Latin  and 
Greek  than  to  fill  the  chair  of  Pastoral  Theology  and  Church 
Polity  in  a  Theological  Seminary. 

It  was  at  the  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Presb^'terian  Church  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  in  the  year  1854:, 
seven  years  previous  to  the  disruption  of  the  church  which 
occurred  in  consequence  of  the  civil  war,  that  I  received,  by 
tmanimous  election  of  that  body,  the  Professorship  of  Pas- 
toral Theology  and  Church  Polity  in  the  recently-organized 
Theological  Seminary  at  Danville,  Ky.     No  intimation  of 
such  a  state  of  things  being  in  prospect  had  been  communi- 
cated to  me,  and  the  intelligence  of  this  action  of  the  Assem- 
bly was  sudden  and  unexpected.     Many  were  the  communi- 
cations received  by  me  from  official  and  other  sources  of  the 
fact.     But  I  was  not  long  in  doubt  as  to  the  course  to  be 
pursued  under  the  circumstances.     I  respectfully,  but  most 
positively,  declined  to  accept  the  position  tendered  me  so 
honorably  by  the  Assembly.     My  reasons  were  based  upon 
several  grounds,  any  one  of  which  appeared  to  me  to  be 
valid  and  sufficient.     In  a  general  sense,  I  felt  a  reluctance 
to  leave  the  South,  to  go  even  so  far  north  as  Danville.     I 
felt,  too,  that  the  field  in  which  I  was  then  laboring  was  one 
full  of  promise  of  great  usefulness  before  me.    I  was  known, 
and  had  already  succeeded  in  securing  the  cordial  esteem 
and  attachment  of  a  large  constituency  in  my  work  for  the 
people  of  the  State,  and  I  felt  greatly  attached  to  them. 


Called  to  other  Spheres  of  Labor  303 

Besides  all  this,  the  work  of  instruction  in  which  I  was 
serving  the  public  at  Oxford  was  that  for  which  I  felt  my- 
self more  competent,  as  I  had  spent  my  life,  in  large  mea- 
:sure,  in  that  form  of  teaching;  that  I  had  never  turned  my 
mind  to  the  subjects  required  to  be  taught  in  that  Profes- 
sorship so  as  to  be  accomplished  sufficiently  to  fill  the  chair 
to  the  credit  or  benefit  either  of  myself  or  of  the  Seminary. 
For  these  reasons,  while  I  felt  truly  grateful  to  my  brethren 
for  the  high  consideration  which  led  them  to  confer  upon 
me  the  honor  of  such  a  distinction,  I  felt  constrained  to  de- 
.cline  its  acceptance. 

In  the  appendix  to  this  memoir  the  correspondence  upon 
this  subject  is  given  in  full,  if  any  one  may  desire  to  read 
it.  I  did  feel  honored  by  it,  as  the  vote  by  which  I  was 
elected  was  practically  unanimous,  and  such  men  as  Robert 
J.  Breckinridge,  Edward  P.  Humphrey,  John  T.  Edgar,  and 
J.  E.  C.  Doremus,  R.  B.  McMullen  and  James  Park,  and 
many  others,  \\Tote  urging  me  to  accept  the  office.  Never- 
theless, I  felt  that  I  could  not  conscientiously  accept  it  at 
the  time,  and  considered  my  reasons  then  strong  and  satis- 
factory. I  have,  I  think,  great  cause  of  thankfulness  now 
when  I  review  the  subsequent  history  of  events  that  have 
passed  throughout  this  region  of  country,  that  I  was  di- 
vinely guided  in  this  decision,  and  guarded  from  doing  that 
for  which  I  should  have  been  led  into  troubles  not  then 
foreseen,  but  which  have  since  been  fully  developed. 

That  I  might  have  accomphshed  myself,  by  hard  study, 
to  fill  that  chair,  I  did  not  doubt,  but  be  it  remembered 
that  I  would  have  found  myself,  at  the  very  outset,  sur- 
rounded by  an  atmosphere  of  theological  learning  and  criti- 
cal acumen  from  which  I  could  not  expect  to  escape  criticism, 
and  to  w^hich  I  did  not  desire  to  expose  myself,  accompa- 
nied by  whatsoever  fraternal  charity  on  the  part  of  others. 
I  was  unwilling,  therefore,  to  exchange  a  work  for  which  I 
had  prepared  myself  by  years  of  hard  and  incessant  appli- 


304  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

cation  and  practice  in  the  impartation  of  instruction  to  stu- 
dents, and  in  which  I  was  giving  satisfaction,  for  one  which 
"was  to  be  subjected  to  an  ordeal  so  severe. 

In  the  year  1856,  after  I  had  filled  the  Professorship  of 
Ancient  Languages  for  eight  years,  the  Board  of  Trustees 
decided  to  separate  the  joint  chair  into  the  two  Professor- 
shi]3S  of  "Greek  Language  and  Literature,"  and  of  "Latin 
and  Modern  Languages."  The  privilege  of  making  a  choice 
of  these  two  languages,  that  which  I  preferred,  was  granted 
me  by  the  Board,  and  I,  accordingly,  selected  the  Greek, 
and  filled  this  chair  only  one  year,  making  my  first  term  of 
service  in  the  Faculty  of  the  ITniversity  just  nine  years. 
My  work  was  by  no  means  light  while  serving  in  the  first 
arrangement  of  instructing  all  the  classes  in  both  languages. 
This  I  kept  up  during  seven  years,  from  1848  to  1855,  at 
which  time  the  Board  appointed  as  a  tutor  in  this  depart- 
ment, George  Tucker  Stainback,  who  was  a  j^oung  preacher 
of  ability  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church,  and  who 
had  been  graduated  with  distinction  in  the  class  of  1854. 
On  the  separation  of  Greek  and  Latin,  and  my  being  as- 
signed to  the  chair  of  Greek,  Mr.  Stainback  left  the  Faculty, 
and  the  Trustees  ajipointed  as  my  tutor,  Wm.  Alexander 
Eakin,  who  had  been  a  classmate  of  Mr.  Stainba<:*k's,  and 
who  had  graduated  with  the  highest  honors  of  his  class. 
I  will  add  just  here,  that  Mr.,  or  (as  he  afterwards  became) 
Dr.  Eakin,  had  been,  when  quite  a  boy,  a  pupil  of  mine  iu 
the  Montrose  Academy,  and  from  his  early  youth  to  the  day 
of  his  untimely  death,  he  was  among  the  most  unexcep- 
tionable characters  with  whom  I  was  ever  associated.  We 
were  together  again  in  the  Synodical  College  at  La  Grange, 
Tenn.,  and  although  he  had  attended  a  regular  course  of 
medical  lectures,  and  had  been  a  practicing  physician,  he 
considered  it  his  duty  to  enter  the  ministry.  Such  was  his 
modesty  and  huml)le  estimate  of  himself,  that  he  said  to  me 
once,  that  he  felt  as  though  he  was  only  fit  to  preach,  if  at 


Changes  in  the  Faculty.  305 

all,  to  the  colored  people.  But  just  wliile  he  was  studying- 
the  subject  prayerfully,  and  before  he  had  taken  a  decided 
step  in  the  direction  of  the  ministry,  it  pleased  the  great 
Head  of  the  church  to  call  him  away  to  a  scene  of  higher 
service  above.     He  died  in  1861. 

The  changes  which  occurred  in  the  University  Faculty 
before  the  war,  and  up  to  the  time  of  my  resignation,  iu 
1857,  consisted  of  the  organization  of  a  chair  of  Metaphys- 
ics and  Ethics,  the  first  incumbent  of  which  was  Rev.  N.  M.. 
Crawford,  D.  D.,  a  classmate  of  my  own,  who  was  grad- 
uated from  the  University  of  Georgia  in  1829,  and  a  sketch 
of  whose  career  I  have  given  in  a  preceding  chapter.     He 
filled  this  chair  only  one  year,  being  called  to  the  Presidency 
of  Georgetown  College,  in  Kentucky.     This  Professorship 
was  subsequently  filled  by  Eev.  G.  AV.  Carter,  D.  D.,  and  by 
Hon.  L.  Q.  C.  Lamar,  LL.  D  ,  successively,  until  the  war  of 
1861 -'65.     There  was  also  an  Instructor  ship  of  Modern  Lan- 
guages established  by  the  Trustees  in  1850,  and  to  this  po- 
sition was  elected  a  foreigner,  by  name  Adolph  Sadluski,  as 
the  first  incumbent,  but  whose  health  was  so  deplorably 
feeble  that  he  was  prevented  from  ever  entering  upon  the 
work  of  instruction  at  all.     He  was  succeeded  by  a  very  un- 
suitable man,  by  na^xie  William  A.  Strozzi,  also  a  foreigner,, 
who  was  in  office  only  two  years.     Both  of  these  men  came 
recommended  as  competent  for  the  position ;  but  perhaps 
there  have  rarely  been  found  such  complete  failures  as  they 
both  proved  to  be.     The  Board  decided  to  combine  the  in- 
struction in  the  modern  languages  with  the  Professorship 
of  Latin,  and  in  1854:  elected  "Wilson  Gaines  Eichardson  to 
that  chair.     Mr.  Richardson  had  been  graduated  with  dis- 
tinction from  the  University  of  Alabama,  and  had  filled  the 
]3lace  of  Tutor  of  Languages  in  the  service  of  his  Alma 
Mater  for  some  time.     He  had  also  spent  some  years  in 
France,   and  had  perfected   himself  in   the  knowledge  of 

Modern  Languages.     He  held  the  office  first  of  Modern 
20 


30G  John  N.  ^\^\ddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

Languages  alone  for  two  years,  and  after  the  combination 
of  Latin  languages,  in  1856,  lie  served  in  this  chair  until 
1859.  He  was  a  fine  scholar,  but  did  not  succeed  in  the 
manasfement  of  students.  He  w  as  successively  a  member  of 
the  Faculties  of  Davidson  College,  North  Carolina,  and  of 
Central  University,  Kentuck}^  and  of  Austin  College,  Sher- 
man, Texas.  In  his  later  years  he  entered  the  Presbyterian 
ministry,  and  died  after  a  brief  service  in  that  sphere  of 
effort.  He  had  charge  of  but  one  field  of  ministerial  labor, 
and  his  churches  were  greatly  pleased  with  him  as  a  minis- 
ter and  his  work  was  fruitful  of  good  results,  and  he  passed 
away  deeply  lamented. 

There  was  also  established  previous  to  m}"  resignation  a 
School  of  Governmental  Science  and  Law  in  1854,  and  to 
this  chair  w^as  called,  as  the  first  Professor,  William  F. 
Stearns,  LL.  D.,  a  very  prominent  and  eminent  lawyer,  who 
was  a  Northern  man  by  birth,  but  had  spent  many  years  in 
Mississippi  in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  held  the 
office  with  great  efficiency  as  an  instructor  until  1861,  when 
the  exercises  of  the  University  were  suspended.  He  com- 
mitted suicide  after  the  war. 

The  vacancy  in  Dr.  Millington's  chair  was  occupied  very 
briefly  and  very  inefficiently  by  a  minister  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  Eev.  J.  C.  Keeney.  He  was  elected  ill  1853,  and 
resigned,  by  request,  in  1854.  His  class  was  one  consisting 
of  young  men  of  rather  extraordinary  intelligence,  and  his 
"want  of  qualification  was  so  excessive  as  to  be  obvious  upon 
slight  test  in  his  lecture-room,  and  this  led  to  the  resolu- 
tion, on  the  part  of  the  class,  to  invite  him  to  resign.  He 
declined  the  invitation  of  the  young  gentlemen,  but  at  the 
ensuing  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  he  became  con- 
vinced that  "  discretion  w^as  the  better  part  of  valor,"  and  he 
decided  to  succumb. 

His  place  was  filled  in  1856  by  the  appointment  of  Capt. 
E.  C.  Bo^Titon,  a  graduate  of  West  Point,   who  held  the 


Changes  in  the  Faculty.  307 

office  before  the  war  until  the  suspension  of  the  exercises 
of  the  University  of  Mississippi,  when  he  returned  to  the 
North.  He  was  an  accomphshed  chemist,  but  a  profane 
swearer,  and  under  provocation  gave  full  vent  to  his  irrita- 
tion in  W'ords  unbecoming  any  man  under  any  circum- 
stances, but  far  more  unbecoming  an  instructor  of  youth. 

On  my  resignation  of  the  chair  of  the  "Greek  Language 
and  History  of  Greek  Literature,"  the  vacancy  was  filled  by 
the  election  of  Professor  Henry  "WTiitehorn,  A.  M.,  in  1857, 
which  he  filled  until  the  occurrence  of  the  war,  when  he 
also  went  North.  My  acquaintance  with  him  w^as  very 
slight.  I  only  knew  he  was  an  Englishman,  and  had  been 
teaching  in  Holly  Springs  some  time.  As  to  his  accomplish- 
ments as  a  Greek  scholar  I  had  no  knowledge ;  but  I  was 
impressed  by  a  little  incident  that  occurred  in  my  lecture- 
room  just  previous  to  his  election.  Being  on  a  visit  to  Ox- 
ford, he  called  at  my  room  very  natiu-alh%  in  order  to  ascer- 
tain my  mode  of  instruction.  It  w^as  my  custom  to  teach  pro- 
Body  in  all  the  poetical  authors  read  by  the  students  in  both 
languages.  As  the  class  was  pursuing  the  study  of  some  one 
of  the  Greek  tragedians,  not  now  recollected,  I  practiced 
them  in  the  scansion  of  the  lines  in  the  trimeter  verse.  At 
the  close  of  the  hour  he  volunteered  the  remark  that  "if 
it  was  expected  that  he  would  teach  prosody,  it  must  be  un- 
derstood beforehand  he  would  not  do  it."  I  learned  after- 
wards that  when  he  went  North  he  was  made  Greek  Profes- 
sor in  Union  College,  Schenectady,  N.  Y. 

Other  i^rofessors  held  office  during  my  ante-bellum  term 
of  service,  and  up  to  the  time  of  the  war.  Among  them,  I 
recall  the  name  of  Lewis  Harper,  who  was  placed  in  the 
chair  of  "Agriculture  and  Geological  Science."  He  was  a 
German,  and  the  degree  of  LL.  D.  had  been  conferred 
upon  him  by  some  unknown  authority,  but  he  seemed  to 
take  peculiar  delight  in  appending  it  to  his  name  on  all  oc- 
casions. 


308  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

He  disappeared  from  our  circle  after  serving  two  years 
— from  1854  to  185G.  He  was  located  somewhere  in  the 
Northern  States  after  leaving  the  University. 

On  the  promotion  of  Dr  Barnard  to  the  Presidency, 
Jordan  M.  Phipps,  who  had  passed  successfully  through  the 
University  classes  from  1848  to  1851,  and  having  earned 
high  position  among  the  graduates,  and  had  been  appointed 
Adjunct  Professor  of  Mathematics  in  1852,  now  succeeded 
to  the  full  Professorship^  of  Mathematics  in  1856.  He  held 
the  office  also  until  1861.  Professor  Phipps  was,  after  the 
cessation  of  hostilities,  an  attorn ey-at -law  and  Mayor  of 
Oxford.  My  last  knowledge  of  him  is  that  he  was  a  citizen 
of  Florida.  He  was  a  Cjuiet,  unassuming  gentleman,  and 
was  much  esteemed  as  a  faithful  and  comjDetent  teacher. 

There  were  in  service  of  the  University"  before  the  war, 
only  two  adjunct  professors,  both  of  Mathematics.  There 
were,  however,  eight  tutors  during  the  same  period,  but 
how  they  were  distributed  among  the  departments  is  not 
recorded. 

This  brings  the  history  of  the  University  down  to  the 
opening  of  the  civil  war. 


CHAPTEE    XXIY. 

Beview  of  Private  and  Domestic  Histoey  from  ISiS  to  1857. 

AT  the  time  of  1113'  election  to  the  chair  of  Ancient  Lan- 
guages in  the  University  of  Mississippi,  in  1848,  mine 
was  a  family  circle  consisting  of  the  beloved  wife  of  my 
youth,  who  for  sixteen  years  had  been  the  light  and  joy  of 
my  home.  She  had  been  the  sharer  of  my  bright  and  pros- 
perous days,  the  sympathizing  comforter  of  the  many  sea- 
sons of  my  gloom  arising  from  changes  of  fortune  that  have 
been  referred  to  in  this  record.  She  had  felt,  with  me,  the 
heavy  burden  of  parental  grief  in  the  death  of  two  lovely 
little  boys  just  as  they  were  growing  more  and  more  win- 
ning and  attractive,  and  we  were  still  the  happy  parents  of 
four  children,  two  daughters  and  two  sons.  Mary  Robert- 
son, whose  birth  has  been  recorded  on  page  —  of  this  me-' 
moir,  and  who  was  now  our  eldest  living  child,  as  Moses,  our 
first-born,  had  died  in  1839,  and  John  Newton,  our  fourth 
child,  had  passed  away  in  1846.  Mary  was  now  eleven 
years  of  age,  and  had  always  been  remarkable  for  her  fond- 
ness for  books  and  perseverance  in  pm'suing  with  earnest- 
ness all  those  studies  which  are  ordinarily  adopted  in  the 
best  training-schools,  even  though  for  some  of  them  she 
might  not  have  manifested  any  considerable  native  taste  or 
talent.  As  an  illustration  of  this,  she  certainly  was  not 
naturally  a  musician,  but  she  did  not  hesitate  for  a  moment 
to  embrace  the  fine  opportunity  afforded  her  of  pursuing 
with  ardor  the  study  of  music :  so  that  she  became  profi- 
cient as  a  performer,  and  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
the  principles  of  the  science.  As  she  afterwards  became  a 
teacher,   she   had  a  number    of   pupils  in  this   dehghtful 

309 


310  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

study,  and,  as  in  every  other  department  of  her  course  of 
instruction,  she  was  always  successful  as  a  teacher.  Her 
career  may  form  the  subject  of  a  future  chapter. 

The  other  little  girl,  Elizabeth  "Woodson  Pleasants,  was^ 
born  on  June  IG,  1840,  at  our  Alabama  home,  and  was  now 
in  her  ninth  year.  She  was  a  very  timid  and  sweet-tem- 
pered child,  and  had  inherited  her  mother's  gentleness  and 
her  intellectual  brightness.  These  two,  with  their  two  lit- 
tle brothers,  George  Robertson,  named  for  his  maternal 
grandfather,  nearly  four  years  old,  and  John  Gray,  called 
for  Rev.  Dr.  John  H.  Gra}^,  of  Memphis,  who  married  my 
wife's  sister  Jane.  Then,  to  render  our  circle  complete, 
the  mother  of  my  wife,  and  the  grandmother  of  these  chil- 
dren, Mrs.  Mary  Collier,  was  also  an  honored  and  beloved 
member  of  our  household. 

It  was  under  such  circumstances  of  domestic  prosperity 
and  comfort  that  I  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  my 
professional  duties.  I  was  in  my  thirty-seventh  year,  in 
fine  health,  and  with  a  bouyant  spirit,  which,  although 
rather  easily  depressed,  was  as  easily  restored  to  its  normal 
tone.  "When  I  review  that  period  of  my  life,  after  long 
years  of  vicissitudes  since  experienced,  it  seems  to  me  that 
I  was  then  just  so  situated  as  to  enjoy  life  in  the  sense  of 
enjoyment,  as  that  word  should  be  understood  bj^  a  rational 
being.  I  had  a  happy  famih%  a  wide  circle  of  attached 
friends,  who  watched  my  new  career  with  profound  interest 
and  kindly  anticipations  of  my  future  success.  I  was  sur- 
rounded also  with  all  those  outside  circumstances  calculated 
to  advance  and  to  facilitate  my  progress,  a  competent  salary, 
and  a  comfortable  home. 

As  I  have  not  referred  to  my  finances  minuteh'  for  a  con- 
siderable space,  I  will  take  leave  of  that  subject  just  here  by 
stating  that  my  remnant  of  indebtedness  for  Alabama  lands 
was  still  unsettled  when  I  entered  upon  my  term  of  service 
at  Oxford ;  but  by  the  kindness  of  my  friend,  Mr.  AVilliam 


Politic Ai:^  Excitemfnt.  311 

M.  Lewis,  then  of  Gainesville,  himself  a  member  of  the 
Land  Company  which  held  my  promissory  notes,  I  was 
enabled  to  make  an  honorable  compromise  of  the  entire 
amount  of  my  liabilities  and  to  settle  it  on  terms  perfectly 
easy  and  satisfactory.  Thus,  by  a  kind  Providence,  I  was 
enabled  to  find  myself,  in  due  time,  relieved  of  the  whole 
debt  which  had  burdened  my  heart  and  life  as  a  horrid  in- 
cubus for  so  many  dreary  years.  I  was  then  free  from  all 
such  incumbrances  for  an  interval  of  3'ears,  and  was  only 
brought  under  financial  pressure  again  by  the  misfortunes 
which  fell  upon  the  South,  resulting  from  the  issues  of  the 
_war  of  1861-'G5.  These  come  into  review  in  their  proper 
place,  and  to  them  no  allusion  need  be  made  further  for  the 
present. 

Things  moved  on  with  comparative  smoothness  in  the 
TJniversit}',  and  nothing  that  need  be  related  here  occurred 
beyond  the  preservation  of  the  even  tenor  of  our  way  as  an 
institution  of  learning.  The  orderly  deportment  of  the 
student  body  was  commendable,  as  a  general  thing,  and  the 
discipline  of  the  University  would  compare  favorably  with 
that  of  any  contemporaneous  school  of  the  higher  learning. 

In  1850,  there  was  brought  into  a  very  great  state  of  ex- 
citement the  discussion  of  slavery,  growing  out  of  the  ques- 
tion before  Congress  of  the  admission  of  California  as  a 
State,  and  of  New  Mexico  and  Utah  as  territories.  The 
canvass  for  political  elections  in  Mississippi  became  ex- 
tremel}'  bitter,  and  the  two  parties  were  aiTayed  againsti 
each  other  under  the  names  of  Unionists  and  Disunionists. 
During  the  progress  of  the  political  excitement,  much  that 
was  to  be  deplored  occurred  in  the  State,  under  the  pressiu*e 
of  hostile  feeling,  among  which  was  the  assassination  of  the 
venerable  and  beloved  President  of  Oakland  College,  Rev. 
Jeremiah  Chamberlain,  D.  D.  There  had  been  held  an 
election  for  members  of  a  State  convention  in  Mississippi,  a 
card  was  published  in  Port  Gibson,  asserting  that  a  student. 


312  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

jiad  been  expelled  from  Oakland  college  for  expressing  Dis- 
union sentiments  in  a  speech.  This  statement  was  at  once 
contradicted  by  Dr.  Chamberlain  and  a  trustee  in  a  pub- 
lished card.  The  author  of  the  charge  gave  as  his  inform- 
ant an  individual  of  the  neighborhood  by  the  name  of  B . 

The  latter  went  on  the  5th  of  September  to  Eodney  much 
excited,  and  after  drinking  deeply,  left  for  home,  and  called 
on  his  way  at  Dr.  Chamberlain's  house.  The  doctor  sus- 
jDecting  nothing,  met  B.  and  stood  talking  with  him  at  the 
gate.  Two  of  the  doctor's  family — his  wife  and  daughter — ■ 
sitting  on  the  veranda,  heard  part  of  the  conversation  that 
took  place,  and  that  B.  called  their  father  repeatedly  a  liar, 
to  which  he  replied :  "  That  you  will  have  to  prove."  Upon 
this  Briscoe  leaped  from  his  buggy,  and  with  a  loaded 
^^hip  felled  Dr.  C.  to  the  ground  twice,  and  as  he  rose  from 
the  second  fall,  stabbed  him  to  the  heart  with  a  bowie- 
knife,  and  then  jumping  into  his  vehicle  left  the  spot. 
The  doctor  was  just  able  to  get  back  to  the  house,  and  on 
being  asked  if  he  was  hurt,  answered,  "I  am  killed;  "  fell 
and  expired.  The  death  of  Dr.  C.  was  universally  lamented, 
and  the  cruelty  of  the  deed  struck  the  community  and  the 
State  with  horror  and  amazement.  A  vast  concourse  of 
mourning  friends  assembled  to  pay  the  last  tribute  to  his 
memory  on  the  next  day,  the  7th  of  September,  as  he  was 
laid  to  rest  in  the  college  cemetery.  A  writer  who  gave  an 
account  of  the  dreadful  occurrence  in  a  journal,  adds  the 
following : 

"  On  the  afternoon  of  the  same  Sabbath  Briscoe  was 
found  by  a  negro  in  a  thicket  in  a  dying  state,  giving  every 
indication  of  having  poisoned  himself.  He  lived  a  few 
liours  after  being  found,  and  then  passed  to  the  bar  of  his 
Judge." 

I  aUude  to  this  sad  event  for  the  two-fold  reason  that, 
Pirst,  it  is  a  very  closely-connected  fact  with  the  history  of 
education  in  Mississippi,   of  which  Dr.  Chamberlain   had 


Called  to'  Oakland  College.  313 

T3een  one  of  tlie  most  distinguished  pioneers,  and  a  most 
laborious  and  successful  promoter.  Second,  his  death  made 
a  vacancy  in  an  impoiiant  position,  to  the  supply  of  which 
the  Board  of  Trustees  found  themselves  confronted  with 
great  difficulty.  Only  a  very  brief  space  of  time  had 
elapsed  after  Dr.  Chamberlain's  death,  when  I  most  un- 
expectedly received  the  following  dispatch :  "  Dr.  Chamber- 
lain has  been  murdered.  "Will  you  entertain  a  proposition 
to  become  his  successor  ? "  To  which  I  immediately  re- 
plied, "  I  cannot  entertain  such  a  proposition.     "Will  write." 

I  had  many  reasons  for  declining  the  proposition,  which 
need  not  be  mentioned — all  of  them — but  the  leading  and 
most  influential  objection  with  me  was,  that  I  shrank  from 
ihe  weighty  responsibihty  which  I  felt  was  inseparable 
from  the  presidency  of  any  college  or  school  of  the  higher 
learning.  This  was  among  the  most  earnest  of  many  calls 
to  induce  me  to  leave  the  University,  but  I  had  no  disposi- 
tion to  comply  with  this  or  any  other  at  that  time. 

But  this  I  mention  as  but  an  incident  of  no  greater  im- 
portance than  the  evidence  it  furnishes  that  I  was  becoming 
better  known  as  an  educator,  and  was  somewhat  in  demand. 
During  this  period  of  my  life  I  was  supphdng  the  Presby- 
terian church  in  Oxford  every  Sabbath.  My  labors  as  the 
stated  supply  of  that  church  commenced  soon  after  my 
arrival,  being  invited  by  the  session  to  take  charge  of  it,  as 
it  had  just  been  made  vacant  by  the  dissolution  of  the  pas- 
toral relation  existing  between  the  church  and  Bev.  S.  I. 
Beid.  This  was  my  field  of  regular  labor  as  a  minister  of 
the  gospel.  I,  however,  frequently  spent  a  Sabbath  at 
other  j)oints  with  my  brethren  and  in  attendance  upon  the 
meetings  of  the  Presbytery  of  Chickasaw,  of  which  I  had 
b)ecome  a  member  by  dismission  from  the  Presbytery  of 
Tombeckbee.  I  also  attended  the  meetings  of  the  Synod  of 
Memphis,  Chickasaw  being  one  of  its  constituent  Presby- 
teries.    This  reference  to  my  ministerial  office  brings  to 


314  John  N.  "Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

mind  a  fact  "uhich  seemed  at  the  time  to  create  some  dis- 
satisfaction in  certain  quarters.  It  will  be  remembered  that 
the  President,  Dr.  Longstreet,  was  a  minister  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church.  In  this  capacity  he  was  very  natu- 
rally invited  by  liis  brethren  to  visit  them  and  preach  in 
their  churches.  He  also  (as  I  was  in  the  habit  of  doing  m. 
my  church),  made  it  a  j)oint  to  attend,  when  convenient,  the 
ecclesiastical  meetings  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  But  in  these 
occasional  calls  from  our  place  of  labor,  neither  he  nor  I 
ever  absented  ourselves  from  duty  for  any  time  that  was  lost 
to  the  true  interests  of  the  University.  Our  classes  lost  no 
appreciable  advantage,  as  we  were  not  absent  simulta- 
neously, and,  indeed,  our  visitations  abroad  among  other 
bodies  of  .our  brethren  and  fellow-citizens  evidently  tended 
to  increase  the  interest  of  the  people  of  the  State  and  com- 
munities around  us  in  the  University.  But  this  habit  of 
ours,  for  some  reason  not  exactl}''  known  to  me,  gave  offence 
to  some  member  or  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and. 
they  jDassed  an  act  at  one  of  their  meetings  annexing,  as  a 
penalty  to  such  absences  of  the  members  of  the  Faculty 
during  the  session  a  fine  of  ten  dollars  for  each  day  so  lost 
from  duty.  The  effect  of  this  action  of  the  Board  was  offen- 
sive to  Dr.  Longstreet,  insomuch  that  he  immediately  de- 
termined to  tender  his  resignation.  I  did  not  regard  the 
matter  in  quite  so  serious  a  light,  for  the  reason  that  it 
would  not,  in  my  opinion,  ever  be  enforced,  because  I  was 
convinced  that  when  it  became  known  to  the  public  that 
such  an  act  had  been  passed,  it  would  be  denounced  by  all 
riii'lit-thinkinof  men,  and  knew  that  the  Board  would  not 
be  willing  to  defy  public  sentiment  to  such  an  extent.  On, 
Dr.  Longstreet's  views  on  the  subject  being  made  known  to 
an  influential  trustee,  he  made  such  representations  to  Dr.. 
Lono'street  as  convinced  him  that  the  action  would  not  in- 
terfere  with  the  freedom  of  the  Faculty ;  and  so  the  matter 
was  quieted,  and  no  further  provocation  being  offered,  Dr^ 


Degree  of  "D.  D."  Cokferred.  315 

Long-street  withdrew  his  intention  to  resign.  I  made  no 
demonstrations  of  any  intention  of  resigning,  but  was  strict 
in  keeping  an  account  of  my  days  of  absence  from  the  Uni- 
versit}',  so  that,  at  the  close  of  the  summer  session,  when  the 
half  of  my  salary  fell  due,  I  presented  my  claim  to  the  Trea- 
surer for  paj^nent,  giving  the  University  credit  for  ten  days' 
absence  at  $10  per  day,  making  $100,  which,  deducted  from 
$1,000,  left  me  entitled  to  only  $900.  The  Treasurer 
glanced  at  the  paj)er  when  I  presented  it,  and,  laying  it 
aside  somewhat  lightly,  he  paid  me  the  salary  as  usual, 
taking  my  receipt  for  one  thousand  dollars.  So  ended  this 
incident,  at  one  time  wearing  a  rather  threatening  aspect ; 
but  nothing  more  of  fines  inflicted  for  absence  was  ever 
mentioned.  In  the  year  1850,  when  I  had  been  connected 
with  the  Uuiversity  about  two  j^ears,  my  attention  was  called 
by  a  friend  to  a  notice  published  in  the  Herald,  a  journal 
edited  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  by  Eev.  W.  W.  Hill,  D.  D.,  stating 
that,  at  the  commencement  of  the  University  of  Nashville, 
the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  had  been  con- 
ferred upon  me  by  the  authorities  of  that  institution.  This- 
printed  notice  of  the  honor  was  the  first  intimation  I  had  re- 
ceived that  such  a  thing  had  occurred;  nor  had  I  ever 
received  the  slightest  intimation  that  any  of  my  friends  had 
contemplated  such  a  suggestion  to  the  Trustees  as  bestow- 
ing upon  me  this  distinction. 

But  enough  of  this,  and  I  only  add  that  the  man  who  has. 
no  more  tenable  claim  to  honor  and  esteem  than  that  which 
is  the  result  of  the  accidental  attainment  of  a  title,  or  a  de- 
gree, is  to  be  pitied.  Such  distinctions,  whether  of  a  civil 
or  militaiy,  or  even  ecclsiastical  origin,  have  become  of  late 
years  so  plenteous  and  almost  universal  as  to  have  lost 
their  value,  if,  indeed,  they  were  ever  possessed  of  much. 
"  Act  well  your  part,  there  all  the  honor  lies  !  " 

But  it  was  not  the  will  of  my  heavenly  Father  that  I  should 
Hve  a  life  of  entire  freedom  from  trial  and  trouble.    So,  that  I 


316  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  T>.,  LL.  D. 

miefht  realize  more  and  more  that  this  world  is  not  the  rest 
of  God's  people,  I  was  destined  soon  to  realize  another 
series  of  afflictivo  providences.  A  sweet  little  boy,  sent  to 
us  in  1849,  after  passing  about  one  year  with  us,  sickened 
and  died.  Two  years  after  this,  my  dear  wife,  as  the  result 
of  the  premature  birth  of  her  eighth  child,  passed  away, 
and  left  our  circle  in  impenetrable  gloom.  The  infant  sur- 
vived its  entrance  into  this  scene  of  suffering  onh'  thirteen 
hours.  Mother  and  two  infant  boys  lie  sleeping  in  the 
cemetery  of  College  church,  near  Oxford.  "  Lovely  and 
jDleasant  in  their  lives,  in  their  death  they  were  not 
divided !  "  Thus  passed  away  one  of  the  truest,  purest,  and 
holiest  of  her  sex.  A  devoted  mother,  an  affectionate  sister 
and  daughter,  an  exemplary  and  tender  wife,  an  indulgent 
mistress,  a  conscientious  Christian,  all  the  warmest  affec- 
tions of  her  husband,  children,  mother  and  sisters  were 
concentrated  upon  her.  Her  servants  were  so  attached  to 
her  that  they  only  needed  to  know,  in  order  to  do  her  will, 
and  there  was  no  service  that  would  have  been  deemed  too 
hard  for  them  to  perform  for  her.  For  nineteen  years  we 
had  lived  together  in  as  much  real  happiness  as  is  allotted 
to  mortals  here  in  this  world.  Sure  am  I  of  one  thing,  that 
if  ever  I  was  unhap^Dy  in  an}'  degree  during  this  period  it 
could  not  be  traced  directly  to  her  as  the  originating  occa- 
sion. Such  inevitable  events  of  an  afflictive  character  as 
occasionally  were  experiencd,  were  shared  one  with  another; 
but  she  never  caused  me  a  pang  of  grief,  except  when  I 
laid  her  away  in  her  grave.  Then  it  was  that  I  became 
conscious  of  the  truth  of  the  trite  and  worn  line  of  the 
poet :  "  How  blessings  brighten  as  they  take  their  flight !  " 

These  regrets  are  unavaihng  now.  It  is  the  common  ex- 
perience of  most  of  us  that  w^e  might  have  done  more  to 
brighten  the  lines  of  the  dear  departed  when  we  look  back 
over  the  returnless  track  of  past  life. 

Time  wore  on  sadly  enough  with  me  imdcr  these  circum- 


Second  Markiage.  317 

stanccn,  and  I  had  now  to  learn  what  I  had  never  known 
before,  the  true  meaning  of  the  word  loneliness,  the  loneli- 
ness of  the  heart !  My  professorial  coiu'se  passed  on  with- 
out any  interruption  until  August,  1854,  when,  on  the  24th 
of  that  month,  I  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Werden,  of 
Richmond,  Berkshire  county,  Mass.  This  lady  had  been 
in  the  South  for  some  years,  as  a  very  fine  teacher,  and  had 
been  known  to  my  first  wife  and  myself  from  1849,  and  in 
consequence  of  a  peculiar  state  of  her  mind  in  regard  to 
the  salvation  of  her  soul,  she  had  been  the  object  of  our 
kind  regard  and  sympathy.  I  still  continued  my  services 
as  stated  supply  of  the  Oxford  Presbyterian  church,  and  as 
she  had  attended  my  ministr}-,  she  had  been  much  affected 
and  very  deeply  distressed  during  a  season  of  a  revival 
meeting  that  occurred  about  that  time.  I  had  frequent  oc- 
casions to  converse  and  pray  with  her.  She  received  very 
little  comfort  from  all  this  intercourse,  as  her  feehngs 
seemed  profoundly  melancholy.  She  became  better  satisfied 
however,  in  j^i'ocess  of  time,  and  made  a  pubhc  profession 
of  religion,  and  connected  herself  with  the  Oxford  Presby- 
terian church.  I  was  impressed  wdth  her  as  a  lady  of  fine 
talents  and  culture,  her  piety  and  the  general  excellence  of 
her  character,  and  after  three  years  we  were  married.  But 
her  health,  from  being  frail  and  delicate,  grew  worse  and 
worse  after  marriage,  bidding  defiance  to  the  skill  of  the 
most  eminent  physicians  South  and  North,  whose  services  I 
could  secure.  She  continued  in  this  condition  for  over 
seven  years,  and  during  these  years  I  had  placed  her  first 
under  the  care  of  the  then  eminent  surgeon  and  specialist, 
Dr.  Marion  Sims,  of  New  York.  Afterwards  she  was  under 
the  care  of  Dr.  Parker,  of  the  same  cit}^,  and  all  to  no  pur- 
pose. I  finally  accompanied  her,  in  the  early  months  of  the 
year  1861,  to  her  native  place,  our  design  and  plan  then 
being  that  she  should  spend  the  spring  and  summers  in 
the  North  and  her  wdnters  in  the  South.     Soon  after  her 


318  John  N.  Waddel,  D  T>.,  LL.  D. 

arrival  in  Massachusetts,  having  seen  her  comfortably  lo- 
cated among  her  friends,  I  returned  to  our  home,  and  not 
lon«-  after  this  the  terrible  civil  war  beo-an  its  devastations 
and  ravages,  and  all  communication  by  travel  and  by  mail 
"was  stopped  between  the  North  and  the  South,  save  that  a 
single  i)age  of  epistolary  intercourse  was  allowed  between 
parties,  which  was  first  to  be  submitted  to  the  inspection  of 
Federal  officers  appointed  for  that  purpose.  "While  this 
■was  better  than  no  interchange  of  letters,  it  was  unsatisfac- 
tory. Several  letters  of  this  kind  passed  between  us  during 
1861,  but  after  one  received  from  her  in  January,  18G2,  I 
heard  from  her  no  more  until,  by  letters  from  her  friends, 
the  intelligence  of  her  death,  on  the  10th  of  April,  1862, 
was  received  by  me  long  after  it  occurred.  In  a  letter  from 
her  sister  I  learned  that  she  gi'ew  more  and  more  feeble, 
until  she  ceased  to  write,  and  passed  away  calmly  trusting 
in  her  Saviour.  It  seemed  that  in  her  feebleuess  she  had 
been  attacked  just  three  months  previous  to  her  death  with 
a  violent  cold,  which  settled  on  her  lungs  and  carried  her 
off  in  rapid  consumption. 

Of  one  thing  I  feel  some  satisfaction,  and  that  is,  she  had 
been  abundantly  provided  by  me  wdth  the  necessary  funds 
in  gold  to  meet  all  her  w-ants,  and  the  testimony  of  her 
friends  in  our  last  intercourse  is  that  she  lacked  for  nothing 
whatever.  It  pleased  God  in  this  way  to  cast  this  shadow 
of  her  broken  health  upon  the  period  of  our  wedded  life. 
But  I  humbly  accept  it  as  among  the  "  all  things  "  that  He 
has  declared  "  work  together  for  good"  to  us. 


CHAPTEE  XXY. 

Establishment  of  a  Chukch  College  by  the  Synod  op  Memphis. — 
Election  of  a  Faculty.  — Discussion  in  Relation  to  the  Loca- 
tion.— Choice  of  La  Grange,  Tenn. 

ABOUT  this  time  there  had  arisen  among  the  i^eople  of 
the  region  now  covered  by  the  territory  of  the  Synod 
of  Memphis,  and  embracing  the  Presbyteries  of  North- 
western Mississippi  and  those  of  AVesl^rn  Tennessee,  ex- 
tending as  far  as  the  northern  boundary  hne  separating  the 
State  from  Kentucky,  very  considerable  discussion  of  a 
scheme  for  the  organization  of  a  college,  to  be  strictly  con- 
trolled by  the  Presbyterian  Church.  The  subject  was 
broup-ht  before  the  Synod,  and  it  was  known  that  such  an 
institution  would  be  organized  at  the  earhest  possible 
period  consistent  with  prudence  and  favoring  prospects. 
The  result  was  that  various  towns  presented  proposals  to 
the  Synod  inviting  the  body  to  locate  the  college  in  their 
midst,  and  offering  inducements  to  that  effect.  Among 
those  places  there  were  prominent  the  city  of  Jackson  and 
the  town  of  La  Grange.  The  former  place  had,  for  many 
years,  been  the  seat  of  8  college,  which  was  one  of  three  in- 
stitutions founded  by  the  State  of  Tennessee,  viz..  East 
Tennessee  University  at  Knoxville,  now  known  as  the  Uni- 
versity of  Tennessee;  Nashville  University  in  the  centre, 
and  West  Tennessee  College,  at  Jackson.  This  last  institu- 
tion was  in  possession  cf  an  endowment  of  $40,000,  which 
was  yielding  an  interest  of  $2,400,  punctually  and  promptly 
paid.  It  had  also  been  tolerably  successful  in  securing  re- 
spectable patronage.  But  beiug  a  State  institution,  it  was 
sometimes  under    a  president   cf   one   denomination,   and 

319 


320  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D,  L  L.  D. 

again  iincler  a  different  administration.  At  one  time  it  had 
been  nnder  a  minister  of  the  Episcopal  Chnrch  (name  now 
forgotten),  and  at  another  time  tinder  the  Rev.  James 
Holmes,  D.  D.,  a  man  of  very  great  reputation  as  an  educa- 
tor, the  fruit  of  whose  labors  in  the  field  of  education  are 
still  found  in  every  walk  of  prominent  usefulness  in  the 
land.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Ch:u'k;s  S.  Dod,  once  pas- 
tor of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Holly  Springs,  Miss.,  a 
gentleman  of  fino  abilities  and  of  considerable  experience 
as  a  college  officer.  Reference  will  be  made  to  this  institu- 
tion at  a  subsequent  period  of  this  history.  Sufficient  for 
our  j)resent  purpose  it  is,  to  state  that  the  trustees  of  the 
AYest  Tennessee  College,  at  Jackson,  proposed  to  the  Synod 
of  Memphis  to  enter  into  a  joint  partnership,  whereby  they 
should  furnish  to  that  body  the  use  of  their  endowment,  as 
to  the  annual  interest,  and  a  good  building  already  erected, 
as  an  inducement  to  its  location  in  Jackson,  upon  condition 
that  the  Synod  on  its  part  should  raise  a  like  sum  of  $40,- 
000  as  their  part  of  the  endowment.  In  passing,  let  it  be 
noticed  that  these  Trustees  did  not  make  this  offer  of  their 
money  and  other  franchises  as  a  gift,  but  only  as  a  loan,  in- 
asmuch as  it  was  a  State  institution  and  could  not  become 
the  property  of  any  denomination. 

The  proposition  from  La  Grange  consisted  in  the  offer  of 
a  subscription  list  of  $37,500  made  by  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity to  the  Synod,  to  induce  the  body  to  locate  the  college 
at  that  place.  The  Masons  had  been  engaged  in  endeavor- 
ing to  establish  a  college  under  their  own  auspices  for 
some  time  before  this  enterprise  of  the  Synod  was  inau- 
gurated. Eut  the}^  had  found  it  a  difficult  matter  to  ac- 
complish ;  and,  no  doubt,  felt  that  the  prestige  of  the 
church  Avould  greatly  facilitate  the  object  in  view,  and  that 
the  establishment  of  a  college  under  the  name  and  endorse- 
ment of  Presbyterians  would  induce  many  to  subscribe  to 
the  endowment,  and  so  render  it  certain  that  the  college 


Choice  of  Site  for  a  College.  321 

"would  be  a  success.  But  it  proved  that  it  was  more  in  ap- 
pearance than  in  reality  that  this  proposition  Tvas  advanta- 
geous. For  while  it  seemed  that  the  amount  of  the  sub- 
scription offered  by  the  Masons  was  nearly  as  large  as  that 
offered  by  the  Jackson  Trustees,  there  was  this  material 
difference  between  the  two  propositions :  the  La  Grange 
subscribers  were  not  required  to  pay  the  principal  of  their 
subscriptions,  but  only  the  interest  annually  due  at  six  per 
cent.  On  the  other  hand,  the  proposal  made  by  the  Jack- 
son people  was  of  an  amount  already  paid  in,  and  well  se- 
cured, which  was  yielding  the  annual  interest  punctually" 
and  promptly.  Now  to  many  persons  it  appeared  the  j)lain 
and  prudent  course  for  the  Synod  to  close  in  at  once  with 
the  offer  made  to  them  by  the  Trustees  of  West  Tennessee 
College,  which  was  a  certainty,  and  which  admitted  of  im- 
mediate occupation,  and  the  inauguration  of  the  proposed 
church  college  without  any  delay.  Accordingly,  at  a  special 
session  of  the  Sj'nod  of  Memphis,  which  was  held  at  Eip- 
ley,  Miss.,  in  the  summer  of  1856,  the  question  of  location 
was  discussed,  and  all  the  proposed  inducements  were  fully 
considered,  in  earnest  and  animated  debate,  and  the  deci- 
sion reached  by  Synod  was  to  accept  the  proposition  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  to  locate  the  college  at  La  Grange, 
Tenn.  Justice  to  the  Synod  demands  that  it  should  be 
stated  here,  that  the  paramount  objection  against  the  offer 
from  Jackson  was  that  the  college  there  was  a  State  insti- 
tution ;  that  tho  funds  constituting  its  endowment  were 
given  by  the  State,  and  that  these  funds  were  not  furnished 
by  Presbyterians  alone,  but  by  the  tax-payers  at  large,  and 
that  the  endow^ment  was  not  offered  to  the  Synod  in  fee 
simple,  but  only  as  a  loan,  which  might  be  withdrawn  at 
any  time ;  and  that  other  denominations  through  the  State 
might  object  to  this  partnership  of  chui'ch  and  State ; 
therefore,  the  Synod  should  avoid  this  sort  of  co-operation 
and  accept  the  offer  from  La  Grange,  as  the  Masons  made 
21 


322  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

no  conditions,  but  that  the  Synod  should  establish  their 
college  in  the  town  of  La  Grange,  and  they  surrendered  to 
the  Synod  all  the  j^i'opei'ty  and  franchises  possessed  by 
them.  The  Synod  of  Meraphis  accepted  these  proposals 
and  determined  to  proceed  at  once  to  organize  a  church 
college  at  the  town  of  La  Grange,  Tenn. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Synod,  subsequently  held  at  La 
Grange,  on  or  about  the  23d  of  October,  1856,  the  subject 
was  discussed,  and  it  was  at  this  meeting  that  the  election 
was  made  of  a  President  and  a  Professor  of  Ancient  Lan- 
guages. For  the  former  office  the  Synod  unanimously  se- 
lected Eev.  John  H.  Gray,  D.  D.,  who  at  that  time  was  pas- 
tor of  the  Second  Presbyterian  church  of  Memphis.  The 
universal  popularity  of  Dr.  Gray  drew  upon  him  the  atten- 
tion of  the  entire  Synod,  both  of  the  laity  and  the  ministry, 
and,  indeed,  the  peoj^le  of  the  community  of  all  the  various 
classes,  both  secular  and  religious.  He  was  made  Presi- 
dent, and  was  commissioned  soliciting  agent  on  this  occa- 
sion, although  the  f  uU  organization  and  opening  of  the  col- 
lege was  necessarily  postponed  until  the  1st  of  October, 
twelve  months  thereafter.  Dr.  Gray  signified  his  willing- 
ness to  accejDt  the  call  of  the  Sjniod,  subject  to  the  decision. 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Memphis.  After  a  great  struggle  and 
opposition  to  this  movement,  on  the  part  of  the  Second 
chui'ch,  the  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved.  He  occupied 
the  intervening  time  in  building  a  residence  in  La  Grange, 
and  visiting  various  parts  of  the  Synod  in  prosecution  of 
his  agency  for  raising  the  endowment  of  the  college,  and  he 
removed  to  La  Grange  in  1857,  and  entered  upon  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duties  as  President  of  the  college  and  stated 
supply  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  that  place.  The 
Synod,  as  above  stated,  had  filled  the  Professorship  of 
Ancient  Languages  at  the  same  time,  in  October,  185G. 
To  that  position  I  was  called — not  being  a  candidate — but 
I  gave  no  intimation  of  any  willingness  to  accept,  nor  did  I 


Elected  to  College  at  La  Grange.  323 

encourage  my  friends  to  exx^ect  that  I  would  do  so  in  the 
f  utui-e.  I  remember  that  dming  the  progress  of  the  discus- 
sion in  Synod  at  La  Grange  great  enthusiasm  was  mani- 
fested by  all,  and  among  others  who  took  i^rominent  part 
in  the  consideration  of  the  subject,  Col.  E.  H.  Porter,  an 
elder  of  the  Thii'd  Presbyterian  church,  Memphis,  made  a 
most  stirring  speech,  which  he  closed  by  placing  at  the  dis- 
posal of  the  Synod  10,000  acres  of  Arkansas  lands  as  his 
donation  to  the  college  to  aid  in  its  endoTVTnent.  This 
created  quite  a  sensation,  and  *every  one  felt  elated  by  the 
prospects  opening  before  the  college^ 


CHAPTER  XXYI. 

Keluctaxce  on  ]mt  paut  to  Leaving  Univeksity  of  Mississippi. — In- 
ducements Held  Out. — Eesignation  and  Removal,  to  La  Gkange» 
— Action  of  Faculty  and  Students  on  my  Resignation. 

I  RETURNED  to  Oxford,  however,  with  not  the  least  de- 
sire to  leave  the  University  of  Mississippi.  I  had  pecu- 
har  views  in  regard  to  college  and  university  life.  During 
the  presidency  of  Dr.  Longstreet,  my  close  and  intimate  as- 
sociation with  him  as  a  colleague  and  a  friend,  led  me  to 
realize  that  the  responsibilities  inseparably  connected  wath 
the  office  of  President  were  exceedingly  w^eighty,  and  that, 
the  successful  discharge  of  the  duties  of  that  office  re- 
quired qualities  rarely  possessed.  Hence,  whenever  it  was 
suggested  to  me,  as  was  often  done  (particularly  by  Dr. 
Longstreet  himself  in  casual  conversation),  that  I  would 
most  probably  succeed  him  as  President,  I  invariably  shrank 
from  the  thought  of  such  an  event.  I  did  not  conceive  my- 
self at  all,  by  natural  constitution  or  experience,  fitted  to 
occupy  such  a  position.  I  had  found  the  chair  of  a  profes- 
sor sufficiently  responsible  for  my  qualifications,  both  as  a 
teacher  and  disciplinarian,  but  I  had  become  sufficiently^ 
self-assured,  and  perhaps  self-confident  in  my  ability  to 
meet  the  requirements  of  the  subordinate  office,  so  that  I 
felt  quite  at  home  in  my  position  in  the  University,  and  wa& 
by  no  means  dissatisfied  ^ith  my  suiToundings.  In  addi- 
tion to  all  this,  I  was  most  comfortably  sustained  in  the 
matter  of  salary  and  home,  as  well  as  in  my  standing  with 
the  Board  and  Faculty.  I  allude  to  these  facts  merely  to 
show  why  I  did  not  feel  inclined  to  change  my  sphere  of 
effort,  or  my  field  of  labor.     In  others  words,  I  greatly  pre- 

324 


Reluctance  to  LEA^'l:  the  IJNrvERsiTY.  325 

ferred  the  chair  of  Ancient  Languages  in  the  University  of 
Mississippi  to  the  position  of  President  of  that  institution, 
or  of  any  other,  and  I  considered  it  greatly  preferable  to 
the  same  chair  in  an  untried  and  unestablished  institution^ 
such  as  the  Synodical  College  at  La  Grange.  This  view  of 
my  entire  satisfaction  with  my  position  at  Oxford  will  serve 
to  explain  my  reluctance,  or,  perhaps,  a  better  word  would 
"be,  indifference,  toward  La  Grange.  I  gave  no  decision  of 
the  question  of  acceptance,  however,  for  many  months. 
During  the  summer  of  1857,  Dr.  Gray,  while  on  the  agency 
to  which  he  had  been  appointed,  in  soliciting  funds  for  the 
endowment  of  the  college  of  the  Synod,  came  to  Oxford 
during  the  exercises  of  the  annual  commencement  of  the 
University,  on  a  visit  to  me.  He  was  very  earnest  and 
pressing  in  his  appeals  to  me  to  accept  the  professorship  at 
La  Grange,  and  go  at  once,  on  the  nominal  salary  of  $2,000, 
without  a  house.  My  salary  at  the  University  was  $2,000, 
promptly  paid,  and  a  very  good  residence,  rent  free.  I  was 
not  in  a  pecuniary  condition  to  live  without  my  salary,  and 
the  prospects  held  out  at  La  Grange  wore  by  no  means  llat- 
tering  as  to  a  support.  I  finally  said  to  him  that  the  verbal 
promise  of  the  Board  at  La  Grange  was  not  sufficient,  as 
they  had  no  endowment  from  Avhose  returns  the  salary 
could  be  realized,  and  that,  although  I  entertained  the  most 
exalted  estimate  of  their  integrity,  as  well  as  of  their  regard 
for  me  personally,  I  could  not  consider  them  indi\'idually 
responsible,  nor  was  there  any  wisdom  in  depending  upon 
the  arrangement  as  matters  now  stood.  My  position  sur- 
l^rised  him,  as  he  was  a  man  of  confiding  temperament,  and 
always  believed  that  what  men  promised  they  would  per- 
form. I  had  not  such  faith  in  men — not  even  in  Presbyte- 
rians. The  steadiness  of  my  refusal  to  go  on  the  terms 
presented  so  wrought  upon  him  that  he  proceeded  to  apply 
at  once  to  certain  men,  friends  of  his,  and  myself  also, 
who  pledged  themselves  to  guarantee  my  salary  for  five 


326  John  L.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

years,  at  $2,000  per  annum.  Accordingly,  after  mucli 
prayer  and  deliberation  upon  the  subject,  I  accepted,  not 
without  some  misgivings  as  to  the  wisdom  of  the  plan. 

I  tendered  my  resignation  to  the  Trustees,  then  in  session^ 
which,  at  first,  they  declined  to  accept.  They  appointed  a 
committee  to  wait  on  me  to  request  me  to  withdraw  it. 
!But  on  my  persisting  in  resigning,  they  expressed  a  wish 
that  it  should  take  effect  at  once,  as  it  was  important  to 
have  the  vacancy  filled  during  their  session  then  in  progress. 
The  reason  for  this  last  intimation  was  that  I  had  proposed 
that  my  resignation  should  not  take  effect  until  Januaiy,  1858. 

It  will  not,  I  trust,  be  regarded  as  savoring  too  much 
of  egotism  that  I  refer  at  this  point  in  the  narrative  to  the 
testimonials  voluntarily  presented  to  me  on  occasion  of  my 
resignation,  by  various  parties  with  whom  I  had  been  asso- 
ciated for  nine  years.  Those  who  accorded  to  me  these 
parting  tokens  of  friendly  regard  and  esteem  were:  First, 
the  Trustees  ;  second,  the  Faculty ;  and  third,  students  of 
the  University.  In  all  these  papers,  such  were  the  expres- 
sions of  regret  on  the  subject  of  my  dissolving  the  relations 
which  had  so  long  held  us  in  close  association,  and  the 
terms  of  high  appreciation  conveyed  to  me  of  my  services, 
that  I  could  not  but  feel  a  sympathetic  and  responsive 
awakening  of  sadness  at  the  idea  of  departure  from  a  scene 
of  so  much  congeniality  in  my  surroundings,  and  I  ac- 
knowledge a  pang  of  regret  at  the  thought  that  the  stej) 
had  been  decided  ujDon  which  would  then  bring  to  an  end 
so  pleasant  a  period  of  my  life.  But  there  was  now  no 
alternative,  and  not  many  days  j)assed  until  I  bade  adieu  to 
the  campus,  and  the  buildings,  and  all  the  familiar  scenes 
where  I  had  dwelt  in  such  mingled  j^eace  and  care,  such 
toil  and  success,  such  joy  and  sorrow,  such  times  of  com- 
parative happiness  and  times  of  deep  affliction. 

My  removal  from  Oxford  to  La  Grange  occurred  in  the 
"vacation  of  the  University.     My  family,  consisting  of  four 


Eemoval  to  La  Gkange.  327 

children— Man-  Eobertson,  Elizabeth  Woodson  Pleasants, 
and  the  two  httle  boys,  George,  aged  thirteen,  and  Gray, 
ten,  with  their  grandmother,  Mrs.  ColHer— went  to  La 
Grange  on  the  first  passenger  train  that  passed  from  Oxford 
northward  over  the  railroad,  whose  name  then  was  the  Mis- 
sissippi Central  railroad.  I  remained  a  day  longer  in  order 
to  settle  all  my  private  affairs,  and  having  chartered  two 
freight  cars,  loaded  them  with  my  furniture,  books,  and  pa- 
pers, and  went  up  on  the  next  day,  arriving  at  La  Grange 
about  the  22d  of  August,  1857.  Just  previous  to  this  the 
Trustees  of  the  college  had  elected  two  additional  profes- 
sors, viz. :  Professor  John  E.  Blake,  of  Georgia,  and  Profes- 
sor James  L.  Meigs ;  the  former  to  the  chair  of  Natural 
Philosophy  and  Chemistry,  the  latter  to  that  of  Mathe- 
matics and  Astronomy ;  Professor  Meigs  having  served  as 
chief  engineer  on  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad. 
Of  these  two  gentlemen  it  will  be  my  pleasure  to  writa 
more  fully  hereafter.  The  college  was  now  furnished  with 
as  fuU  a  corps  of  instructors  as  the  means  of  support  in 
possession  would  justify. 


CHAPTEK  XXYII. 

Visit  to  the  North  and  Opening  Peospects  of  the  College  in  1857. — 
General  Train  of  Work. 

THE  first  service  which  I  was  called  upon  to  perform  in 
my  new  field  of  labor,  was  to  go  to  the  Northern  cities 
on  an  agency  to  purchase  an  ap23aratus  for  the  departments 
of  Natural  Philosophy  and  Chemistry,  and  to  secure,  if  pos- 
sible, some  contributions  for  a  library. 

I  arrived  in  La  Grange  about  the  22d  of  August,  1857, 
^hich  was  on  Saturday,  and  preached  in  the  Presbyterian 
church  twice  on  the  Sabbath.  On  Monday,  the  24th,  I 
took  the  train  on  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad  for 
a  tour  North.  The  most  travelled  route  at  the  time  was  via 
Chattanooga,  Atlanta  and  Augusta,  Ga.,  etc.  My  only  stop 
on  the  way  was  at  Greensboro',  Ga.,  where  I  met  for  the 
first  time  Professor  John  R.  Blake,  Professor-elect  at  the 
new  college  at  La  Grange.  He  was  then  professor  in  a 
Tery  flourishing  female  college,  presided  over  at  that  time 
by  Rev.  L  S.  K.  Axson,  D.  D.,  afterwards  pastor  of  the  Li- 
dependent  Presbyterian  church  of  Savannah,  Ga.,  for  so 
many  years.  Of  Professor  B.  I  shall  have  occasion  to  write 
more  hereafter.  At  this  point,  I  continue  the  account  of 
my  trip  North.  I  spent  several  weeks  in  Boston,  New  York, 
and  Philadelphia.  In  Boston  I  made  a  purchase  of  one 
thousand  dollars'  worth  of  scientific  apparatus  and  instru- 
ments, paying  five  hundred  dollars  of  the  purchase  money 
in  cash,  w^hich  was  the  whole  amount  at  the  command  of  the 
Trustees  at  that  time,  the  remainder  being  allowed  on  short 

328 


A  Mission  to  the  North.  329 

credit,  and  paid  fuUy  and  promptly  at  the  time  due.     On 
niY  visit  I  met  with  many  of  the  prominent  ministers  of  the 
Presbyterian  Cliurch,  among  them  Eev.  Br.  Potts,  of  New 
York,  and  Dr.  John  Leighton  ^Vilson,  who  died  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Southern  Presbyterian  Church,  at  the  head  of 
the  Committee  of  Foreign  Missions,  in  1886.     At  the  time 
I  met  him  in  New  York  he  was  acting  as  Assistant  Secre- 
tary of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.     This,  it  must  not  be  forgotten,  was  four  years 
previous  to  the  separation  of  the  Southern  Presbvterians 
irom  the  Northern  Presbyterians,  and  the  organization  of 
the  Pi-esbyterian  Church  of  the  United  (Confederate)  States. 
Dr.  "Wilson  had  been  a  missionary  in  Western  Africa  as  far 
back  as  1837,  and  perhaps  earlier  than  that  period.     But 
was  obliged  to  retm-n  on  account  of  the  loss  of  health  of  his 
family.     When   the   late  civil  war   began   he   returned  to 
South  Carolina,  his  native  State,  and  on  the  convention  of 
the  Southern  Presbyteries  to  constitute  a  Southern  Assem- 
bly, meeting  in  Augusta,  Ga.,  in  December,  1861,  he  was 
made  Secretary  of  Foreign  Missions,  and  served  in  that  ca- 
pacity  until  his  death,  in  1886.     I  also  met  for  the  first  and 
only  time,  Bev.  Charles  Hodge,  the  venerable  and  beloved 
Professor  of  Theology  at  Princeton,  N.  J.,  where  I  spent 
two  days,  during  the  vacation  in  the  college,  but  after  the 
openmg  of  the  session  of  the  Theological  Seminary,  as  I 
was  present  at  the  afternoon  Sabbath  conference  conducted 
by  him  in  the  lecture-room  of  the  Seminary.     I  remember 
walking  with  him  through  the  Princeton  cemetery,  and  hav- 
ing pointed  out   to  me   the   graves    of  the   Presidents    of 
Prmceton  College,  Burr,  Edwards,  Davies,  Finlev,  Stanhope, 
Smith,  and  Green,  besides  the  first  professors  of  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  the  venerable  and  saintly  Alexander  and 
Miller.     I  stopped  a  few  days  also  in  Philadelphia,  w^here  I 
met  my  friend,  Dr.  Cortlandt  Van  Bensselaer,  then  conduct- 
ing the  Presbyterian  Magazine,  devoted   to    the   cause  of 


330  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

Christian  education.  He  Avas  also  Secretary  of  the  Assem- 
bly's Board  of  Education  at  that  time.  He  made  the  col- 
lege a  present  of  a  fine  bell,  and  through  his  influence  I 
obtained  quite  a  contribution  of  valuable  books  from  the 
jDublishing  house  of  Lippincott  &  Co.  I  then  left  for  La. 
Grange,  where  I  arrived  about  the  3d  of  October. 

The  college  opened  about  this  time  with  the  following 
Faculty : 

John  H.  Gray,  D.  D.,  President,  Professor  of  Ethics,  Metaphysics  and 

Sacred  Literature. 
John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D,,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages. 
John  B.  Blake,  M.  A.,  Professor  of  JS'atural  Philosophy  and  Chemistry. 
James   L.  Meigs,   M.  A. ,    Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Astronomy; 

and  Civil  Engineering. 
Geokge  K.  Grant,  M.  D.,  Lecturer  on  Physiology. 
Hon.  John  W.  C.  Watson,  Lecturer  on  International  Law. 

The  two  last  gentlemen  were  not  regular  members  of  the 
Faculty,  but  promised  to  deliver  lectures  as  they  found  op- 
portunity, Dr.  Grant  being  an  eminent  physician  of  Mem- 
phis, and  Mr.  AVatson  equally  eminent  at  the  bar,  residing 
in  Holly  Springs,  Miss. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  appointed  by  the  Synod  consisted, 
of  three  classes,  comjDOsed  of  ministers  and  elders  in  equal 
numbers.  Each  class  contained  eight  members,  whose 
term  of  ser\dce  expired  after  the  first  appointment  in  three 
years,  subject  to  reappointment.  The  President  of  the  col- 
lege was  ex  officio  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and 
the  other  officers  of  the  Board  were  a  Treasurer,  Assistant 
Treasurer,  and  Secretary. 

It  is  a  noteworthy  fact  in  the  history  of  La  Grange  Synodi- 
cal  College  that  it  opened  with  the  full  number  of  the  regu- 
lar college  classes :  Senior,  Junior,  Sophomore,  and  Fresh- 
men, and,  besides,  a  scientific  class  and  a  primary  school. 
The  Seniors  were  seven  j  the  Juniors,  seven;  the  Sopho- 
mores, fijteen y   the  Freshmen,  thirty;  the  scientific  class, 


Openmg  of  the  College.  83!L 

fourteen ;  and  the  primary  school,  forty-six ;  the  total  in  all 
departments  numbering  119.  Of  these  there  were  from 
Tennessee,  seventy -three ;  from  Mississippi,  forty ;  from 
Louisiana,  four  ;  and  from  Arkansas,  two — total,  119.  The 
location  of  the  college,  just  near  the  line  separating  Missis- 
sippi and  Tennessee,  accounts  for  the  large  proportion  of 
students  from  the  former  State.  At  all  events,  it  was  a 
fact  that  three  of  our  newly-organized  Senior  class  left  the 
University  of  Mississippi,  and  three  of  oui'  Junior  class  had 
also  been  students  in  the  same  institution,  and  entered  at 
La  Grange.  No  effort  was  ever  made  by  our  Faculty,  or  by 
our  Board  of  Trustees,  to  draw  off  students  from  the  Mis- 
sissippi institution.  It  is  to  be  attributed  to  the  fact  that 
this  new  enterprise  was  a  church  college,  which  caused  a 
rally  of  the  Presbyterians  of  the  two  adjoining  States  to  its 
patronage  and  support,  and  the  further  fact  that  the  people 
were  satisfied  with  the  manner  in  which  the  college  had 
been  organized.  Its  Faculty  were  all  well  known  to  the  sur- 
rounding community,  except  Professor  Blake,  whose  en- 
dorsement was  of  a  high  order  of  excellence  from  Georgia,. 
and  who  was  not  long  in  taking  high  rank  among  his  col- 
leagues. The  Trustees  were  men  of  the  highest  character 
in  the  ministr^^  and  eldership,  and  the  confidence  of  the  peo- 
ple of  the  immediate  community  speedily  became  enthusi- 
astic, and  almost  universal  in  the  success  of  the  college. 
My  mnny  warm  friends  in  the  churches  of  Oxford  and 
Hopewell  (near  Oxford),  to  which  I  had  been  so  long  minis- 
tering, and  to  whom  I  had  been  warmly  and  deeply  at- 
tached, manifested  great  attachment  to  me  and  seemed 
very  unwilling  that  I  should  dissolve  the  pleasant  relations 
which  had  existed  for  nine  years  in  uninterrupted  harmony^ 
It  was,  therefore,  settled  that  I  should  still  supply  these 
churches  with  preaching,  going  down  every  Saturday  by 
rail,  and  returning  on  Monday  morning,  by  the  early  train^ 
in  amj)le  time  for  my  duties  in  the  college.     This  arrange^ 


332  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

ment,  hj  wliich  I  j^reaclied  to  Oxford  and  Hopewell  on  the 
usual  Sabbaths  of  our  engagement,  continued  until  the 
close  of  the  year  1857.  Then,  as  my  labors  became  un- 
usually heavy  in  the  fact  that  I  "was  obhged  to  add  a  horse- 
back ride  out  to  the  country  to  my  railroad  ride,  whenever 
it  became  the  time  for  that  appointment,  I  gave  up  the 
country  church,  and  continued  to  supply  Oxford  twice  in 
the  month  and  the  La  Grange  church  twice  j)er  month,  in 
which  latter  church  Dr.  Gray  preached  during  the  alternate 
Sabbaths.  But  the  labors  of  the  year  1858  were  very 
heavy  indeed  on  me;  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  at  its  close 
I  felt  that  it  was  gradually  undermining  my  health  some- 
w^hat  seriously.  I  felt  obli^fed,  under  these  circumstances, 
to  give  up  Oxford.  I  thenceforward  confined  my  labors  to 
the  church  at  La  Grange,  still  dividing  the  supply  of  that 
pulpit  with  Dr.  Gray,  and  riding  down  to  Lamar,  a  very 
weak  and  poor  church  in  INIississipj^i,  south  of  La  Grange  a 
few  miles,  every  alternate  Sabbath,  and  preaching  to  the 
few  excellent  Presbyterians  who  resided  in  that  neigfhbor- 
hood.  I  recall  the  fact  now,  that  on  nearly  every  day  when 
I  preached  there,  Judge  Alexander  M.  Clayton,  whose  fine 
country  home  was  near  the  church,  attended  with  his 
family.  The  judge  and  I  had  been  long  associated  in  the 
L^niversity  of  Mississippi,  he  and  I  having  been  members  of 
the  chartered  Board  of  Trustees,  and  then  from  1818  to 
1857  he  still  was  an  influential  Trustee,  and  I  a  member  of 
the  Faculty.  I  was  always  happy  to  number  him  among* 
my  friends  in  whom  I  had  confidence.  Before  dismissing 
this  part  of  my  record,  I  will  mention  a  very  pleasing  inci- 
dent connected  with  my  reminiscences  of  Oxford  and  its  ex- 
cellent and  always  beloved  people.  At  the  close  of  the 
year,  when  I  ceased  to  preach  for  them,  the  ladies  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  sent  me  a  beautiful  present  of  a  silver 
2:)itcher,  two  goblets,  and  a  large  handsome  salver,  and  ac- 
<jompanied  the  present  with  a  beautiful  letter,  as  follows  : 


A  Pleasing  Reminiscence.  333 

"Oxford,  Miss  ,  J,munry  25,  1859. 
Eev.  J.  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.  : 

"Dear  Sir, — AVhen  iu  the  Providence  of  God  we  were  called  upon 
to  sever  the  ties  which  had  bound  you  to  us  through  so  many  happy 
years,  it  was  with  the  sad  conviction  that  we  were  losing  a  wise  coun- 
sellor, a  faithful  friend,  and  an  aflfectionate  pastor,  that  we  resigned 
ourselves  to  the  will  of  God.  We  strove,  without  repining,  to  bid  yon 
farewell,  following  you  with  our  prayers  and  blessings,  to  that  new 
field  of  labor  iu  which  we  knew  you  might  find  more  numerous  and 
powerful  friends,  but  in  which  we  felc  sure  you  could  find  none  more 
ardent  and  attached  than  those  who,  in  this  little  church  of  Christ, 
have  been  for  years  guided  by  your  counsels,  encouraged  by  your  ex-, 
hortations,  and  edified  by  your  example.  Time  has  only  served  to 
strengthen  these  feelings,  and  to  perpetuate,  as  far  as  may  be,  by  the 
the  simple  gift  which  accompanies  this  note,  the  remembrance  of  a 
relationship  which  God  has  blessed  abundantly  to  us,  and,  we  trust, 
rendered  happy  to  you.  Be  pleased  to  accept  it  as  a  slight  memento 
of  our  confidence  and  affection,  a  perishable  token  of  the  imperish- 
able gratitude  and  regard  which  we  will  ever  cherish  toward  you. 

"With  the  warmest  wishes  for  your  future  usefulness  and  happi-. 
ness,  Truly  and  kindly  yours, 

"(Signed),  "  J.  E.  Rascoe, 

M.  A.  Wendel, 
S.  IsoM, 
*' Committee  in   behalf  of  t1ie  Ladies    of  the  Presbyterian    Church, 
Oxford,  Miss." 


CHAPTER  XXTIII. 

Sketches  of  thk  Members  of  the  Faculty. — Key.  John  Hanxah 
Ge AY,  D.  D.  — Pbofessoe  John  Bennie  Blake,  A.  M.  — Professor 
James  L.  Meigs,  A.  M. 

AS  I  gave  sketches  and  reminiscences  of  my  colleagues 
in  the  University  of  Mississippi,  it  is  but  due  to  the 
love  and  esteem  I  have  always  entertained  for  those  "svith 
whom  I  was  associated  in  this  college,  so  intimately  and 
harmoniously  for  four  years,  that  I  should  attempt  some 
portraiture  of  their  characteristics  as  presented  in  the  posi- 
tions they  occupied.  I  propose  in  this  place  to  insert  a  very 
full  and  minute  account  of  the  life  and  labors  of  Dr.  John 
H.  Gray,  the  first  presiding  officer  of  the  college.  This  notice 
of  him  w^as  published  not  long  after  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1878,  a  period  never  to  be  forgotten  by  those  who 
recall  the  fearful  desolation  and  ravages  of  the  fatal  yellow 
fever  epidemic  prevailing  in  Memphis  and  the  surrounding- 
country  dimng  that  year.  I  make  no  apology  for  inserting 
it  here,  inasmuch  as  I  am  its  author,  and  hold  it  as  being, 
■with  all  its  faults,  true  to  the  lamented  subject,  about  whose 
character  there  is  no  fear  that  anything  too  good  can  be  re- 
corded. He  has  been  released  from  his  toils  on  earth,  and 
has  long  since  entered  into  his  heavenly  rest,  and  while 
those  who  knew  and  loved  him  and  profited  by  his  "  work 
of  faith,  his  labor  of  love,  and  his  patience  of  hope,"  need 
no  aid  in  recalling  him  to  memory,  as  "  the  righteous  shall 
be  in  everlasting  remembrance,"  let  his  name  and  his  life  be 
perpetuated  to  those  who  come  after,  as  the  model  of  imi- 
tation for  all  who  may  read  this  humble  narrative. 

334 


Key.  John  H.  Gray,  D.  D  335 

1.    Rey.  John  Hannah  Gray,  D.  T>.,  First  President  of  La 

Grange  College. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  one  of  a  class  of  men — 
always  few  iu  number,  but  still  to  be  found — witnesses  for 
Jesus  Christ,  of  the  loving  and  beautiful  fruits  of  the  Chris- 
tian religion.  Some  represent  that  religion  as  "the  Pauls," 
others  as  *'the  Peters,"  and  yet  others  as  "the  Johns," 
■among  the  disciples.  Of  this  last  class,  Dr.  Gray  was  uni- 
versally admitted  to  be  a  shining  member,  "  a  living  epistle, 
known  and  read  of  all  men,"  insomuch  that  he  was  lov- 
ingly and  affectionately  styled  by  his  more  intimate  friends, 
as  '  the  beloved  disciple. ' " 

He  was  born  in  February,   1805,   in  Abbeville  district, 
South  Carolina,  within  the  bounds  of  Hoj^ewell  church,  of 
which  his  j)arents  were  prominent  members,  and  his  father 
an  honored   and   leading   ruling   elder.     Descended   from 
such  parents,  it  is  not  by  any  means  surprising  to  find  that 
Dr.  Gray  was,  at  a  very  early  age,  made  by  the  Holy  Spirit 
a  subject  of  that  grace  of  God  the  fruits  of  which  he  dis- 
played in  a  most  extraorclinaiy  manner  during  his  whole 
subsequent  life,  both  as  a  private  member  and  as  an  emi- 
nent minister  of  Jesus  Christ.     His  heart  and  mind  were 
at  once  turned  to  the  gospel  ministry  as  his  future  life-work, 
-and  he  was  sent  for  his  literal;;}'  preparation  to  the  Univer- 
sity of  Georgia,  then  under  the  presidency  of  Dr.   Moses 
"Waddel,  father  of  this  writer.     There   Dr.   Gray  pursued 
his  course  of  collegiate  study  to  his  graduation,  which  he 
accomplished  with  high  distinction  in  1823,  in  the  nineteenth 
year  of  his  age.     Being  in  due  time  licensed  and  ordained, 
he  entered  upon  the  great  work  of  preaching  the  gospel, 
having  found  as  his  first  field  of  ministerial  labor,  the  then 
newly  settled  and  attractive  region  of  Western  Alabama. 
Here  he  spent  twelve  or  fifteen  years  of  laborious  and  suc- 
cessful toil  in  the  work  of  the  ministry.     He  was  for  many 
years  pastor  of  the  church  of  Mesopotamia,  and  afterwards 


336  John  L.  Waddel,  D.  D.  LL.  D. 

of  Betlisalem,  both  in  the  county  of  Greene,  and  then,  in  the 
hope  of  securing  better  health  for  his  family,  he  removed  to 
Jasper  county,  Miss.,  in  1841.  Thence  he  was  called  to 
the  pastorate  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Vicksburg,  and 
removed  to  that  city  in  1843,  and  resided  there  for  about 
two  years,  when,  in  obedience  to  another  invitation,  he  went 
to  the  young  and  rising  city  of  Memphis.  Kere  he  organ- 
ized the  Second  Presbyterien  church,  and  conducted  the 
services  for  some  time  in  a  building  near  the  river  bluff, 
temporarily  converted  from  a  warehouse  into  a  house  of  wor- 
ship. Here  his  labors  were  blessed,  and  his  devoted  and  en- 
terprising people  resolved  to  "arise  and  build."  In  this 
church  Dr.  Gray  served  God  and  His  people  for  fourteen  years 
with  eminent  success,  universally  esteemed  as  a  model  j^astor. 
His  blameless  Hfe,  his  tender  sympathy  with  all  classes  of 
sufferers,  his  fidelity  to  the  duties  of  his  sacred  office,  his 
tender,  affectionate,  and  wise  pulpit  ministrations,  all  com- 
bined  to  clothe  him  with  an  influence  and  a  power  for  good 
such  as  few  men  have  ever  wielded  in  Memphis.  His 
name  is  still  as  ointment  poured  forth  among  the  survivors 
of  those  days  when  he  dwelt  among  them,  and  went  in  and 
out  before  them,  as  first  pastor  of  the  Second  Presbj^terian 
church  of  Memphis.  It  was  during  his  residence  as  pastor 
here  that  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was 
conferred  upon  him  by  the  University  of  Nashville,  then 
under  the  presidency  of  the  eminent  scholar  and  divine, 
Philip  Lindsley,  D.  D.  In  a  former  chapter  of  this  memoii* 
is  recorded  fully  the  account  of  the  dissolution  of  this 
happy  and  fruitful  pastorate,  consequent  upon  the  call  of 
Dr.  Gray  to  the  presidency  of  the  Synodical  College  at  La 
Grange.  The  success  of  the  college  rmder  his  presidential 
administration  from  1857  to  1860,  was  unparalleled.  The 
prosperit}^  which  marked  its  career,  in  the  fact  that  the 
average  number  of  students  for  the  few  years  of  its  exist- 
ence was  far  beyond  what  is  usual  in  young  colleges,  and 


Eev.  John  H.  Gray,  D.  D.  337 

that  the  advancement  and  orderly  and  gentlemanly  deport- 
ment of  the  students  proved  to  be  so  creditable  to  them- 
selves and  to  their  Faculty,  are  attributable,  no  doubt,  in 
great  measure  to  the  ^yise  and  judicious  management  of 
the  President,  in  which  he  enjoyed  the  cordial  co-operation 
of  his  attached  colleagues. 

The  close  of  the  disastrous  "  War  between  the  States " 
found  Dr.  Gray  again  in  his  La  Grange  home,  surrounded 
by  the  ruins  of  the  college  and  the  town,  and  the  material 
work  in  entire  desolation,  and  all  that  could  be  reached  hy 
the  ravages  of  war  passed  away  "  among  the  things  that 
were ! "  But  gathering  up  his  last  energies,  he  zealously 
devoted  himself,  "heart,  soul,  mind,  and  strength,"  to  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  during  ten  j^ears  of  toil,  preaching  in 
the  weakened  churches — La  Grange,  Saulsbury,  and  Mid- 
dleton — as  often  as  possible,  until  increasing  debility,  arising 
from  a  chronic  affection  of  some  3'ears'  standing,  compelled 
him  reluctantly  to  cease  preaching  altogether.  His  last 
days  were  clouded  and  saddened  by  the  loss  of  the  devoted 
wife  of  his  youth,  and  so,  by  slow  and  increasing  infirmi- 
ties, he  passed  to  his  rest,  on  Sabbath,  September  22,  1878, 
aged  seventy-two  years,  seven  months  and  seventeen  days. 
Let  us  sum  up  the  prominent  traits  of  his  character,  that 
they  may  be  left  on  record  for  the  future  character  of  the 
church's  history. 

1.  Naturally  amiable  and  affectionate,  these  traits,  refined 
and  elevated  by  grace,  made  him  a  devoted  husband,  a  ten- 
der and  loving  father,  a  faithful  and  constant  friend,  a  sym- 
jDathetic  pastor,  an  earnest,  beseeching  pleader  with  men  to 
seek  the  salvation  of  their  souls.  If  he  had  an  enemy,  it 
was  unknown. 

2.  "  The  chastening  of  the  Lord,"  which  he  had  borne  in 
the  loss  of  wife  and  nine  of  their  eleven  childi'en,  and  many 
others  dear  to  him  as  kindred  and  friends,  wrought  upon 
him  the  influence  of  rendering  him  only  more  tender  and 

22 


338  John  N.  ■\A'addell,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

gentle,  "weaning  liim  more  entirely  from  the  things  of  earth, 
and  attracting  him  more  eagerly  to  heaven.  He  said  to 
one,  "  I  pray  for  resignation  to  live !  "  Such  was  his  loDging 
"desire  to  depart  and  be  with  Jesus." 

3.  As  a  preacher,  he  never  "  served  God  with  that  which 
cost  him  naught."  His  sermons  he  very  diligently  pre- 
pared, especially  accompanying  his  studies  with  prayer, 
realizing  the  great  Reformer's  experience,  '■'■hene  orasse,  est 
hene  studuisseJ'  His  pulpit  exercises  were  abundant  in 
gospel  truth,  and  his  exhibitions  of  God's  love  in  Jesus 
Christ  were  peculiarly  tender  and  impressive,  uttered  in  a 
voice  exceptionally  sweet  and  winning,  while  his  naturally 
noble  face  was  ii'radiated  with  the  spirit  of  burning  love  to 
God  and  man.  One  of  his  ministerial  brethren,  who  often 
heard  him,  once  remarked,  after  one  of  his  happiest  efforts, 
"  I  surely  never  preached,  so  different  are  my  sermons  from 
this." 

4.  He  was  the  very  soul  of  benevolence.  It  will  nevor  be 
known  until  the  great  day  what  he  accomplished  in  this 
line  of  Christian  work — how  many  tears  he  dried,  how  much 
suffering  he  relieved,  how  many  wounded  hearts  he  aided  in 
binding  up,  how  much  he  contributed  of  his  substance  to 
the  treasury  of  the  Lord  ;  but  it  is  written  in  "  the  Book  of 
God's  remembrance." 

His  remains  lie  in  Elmwood  cemeteiy,  in  the  family  lot, 
beside  thoso  of  the  dear  departed  who  preceded  him,  and 
bis  released  spirit  has  doubtless  been  welcomed  to  the  pre- 
sence of  his  divine  Master  with  "  Well  done,  good  and 
faithful  servant ;  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord ! " 

2.    John  Bennie  Blake,  A.  M. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  part  of  the  history 

is  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  and  at  the  time  of  his  election 

to  the  Professorship  of  Natural  Philosophy  and  Chemistry 

was  in  his  thirty- second  year.     He  was  a  graduate  of  the 


John  Eenxie  Blake,  A.  M.  339 

"University  of  Georgia,  of  the  class  of  1846,  closing  Lis  term 
of  scholastic  training  with  high  distinction  in  a  class  re- 
markable even  then  for  intellectual  and  scholarly  abiUty, 
many  of  whom  attained  eminence  in  the  various  depart- 
ments of  professional  life.     Professor  Blake  was  a  student 
of  the  Lawrence  Scientific  School  at  Harvard  University, 
taking    special    courses    under    the    celebrated    Professor 
Agassiz,  and  was  a  imvate  pupil  of  Agassiz  in  his  laboratory 
on  the  seashore  at  Nahant,  Massachusetts ;  and  on  his  nomi- 
nation by  Professor  Agassiz,  he  was  elected  corresponding 
member  of  the  "Boston  Natui-al  History  Society."     He  was 
also  a  pui^il  of  the  great  chemist,  Horsford.    He  was  elected, 
as  already  stated,  in  1857,  to  the  chair  of  Natm-al  Sciences 
in  La  Grange  Synodical  College.     On  the  dissolution  of  the 
College,  in  1861,  he  was  elected  Professor  of  Natural  Phil- 
osophy and  Astronomy  in  Davidson  College,  North  Caro- 
lina.    He  served  during  the  administrations  of  Drs.  J.  L. 
Kirkpatrick  and  G.  W.   McPhail  in  this  chair  with  such 
eminent  success  as  an  instructor  and   practical   manager 
that,  on  the  death  of  Dr.  McPhail,  Professor  Blake  was  ap- 
pointed chairman  of  the  Faculty  of  Davidson  College.     In 
this  capacity  he  served  the  college  with  signal  ability  and 
13henomenal  success  until  1879,  when,  on  the  change  of  this 
provisional  form  of  administration,  to  which  Professor  Blake 
had  always   been  opposed,  he  became,   by  election,   Vice- 
President  of  the  College.     In  1881  he  tendered  his  resigna- 
tion of  the  chair  he  had  so  long  filled,  but  was  induced  to 
withdraw  it  by  the  earnest  appeals  of  those  interested ;  but 
renewing  his  resignation  in  1885   persistently,  the  Board 
accepted  it,  with  complimentary  expressions  of  high  esteem 
and  regret  on  his  severance  of  a  laborious  term  of  faithful 
service  of  twenty-four  years. 

The  above  running  sketch  of  the  Hfe  and  labors  of  this 
most  exceUent  and  successful  college  educator  is  given  as  a 
clear  demonstration  of  the  estimate  placed  by  the  friends 


340  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

and  patrons  of  education  upon  liis  services,  talents,  and 
learning-,  of  all  wliicli  La  Grange  was  the  recipient  for  only 
four  years.  I  do  not  consider,  however,  that  full  justice 
•will  have  been  accorded  to  him  without  something  addi- 
tional, first,  as  a  statement  of  his  standing  aad  character  at 
La  Grange,  and  then  as  to  the  estimate  placed  uj^on  him  at 
Davidson  College.  For  the  first  I  am  responsible,  as  it  con- 
sists of  a  true  statement  of  my  own  knowledge  of  his  course 
during  his  brief  sojourn  with  us  of  the  four  years  passing 
between  1S57  and  18G1. 

Professor  Blake's  connection  with  La  Grange  College 
began  in  October,  1857,  and  from  the  very  outset  of  his 
career  to  its  close  he  manifested  the  utmost  devotedness  of 
all  his  energies,  intellectual  and  moral,  to  the  work  of  build- 
ing up  the  cause  of  Christian  education.  Of  his  qualifica- 
tions, by  personal  training  and  study  and  experience,  we 
have  already  made  ample  mention ;  and  no  man  with  whom 
I  have  ever  been  associated  Avas  ever  more  zealous  and  suc- 
cessful in  imparting  the  benefits  of  his  own  learning  and 
acquisitions  to  those  under  his  instructions.  He  was  faithful, 
as  all  who  knew  him  can  testify,  as  a  disciplinarian ;  and  while 
sufficiently  rigid  in  exacting  of  his  pupils  the  requisite  dili- 
gence and  devotion  to  preparation  for  all  scholastic  exer- 
cises and  just  in  awarding  to  all  the  credit  due  to  their  j)er- 
formances,  he  w^as  courteous  and  apjDroachable  on  all  occa- 
sions by  the  students.  He  was  much  beloved  and  highly 
esteemed  as  a  member  of  the  Faculty  by  his  colleagues, 
never  shrinking  from  the  assumption  of  his  full  share  of  all 
the  responsibility  devolving  upon  himself.  The  character- 
istics thus  displayed  in  his  daily  work  and  association  with 
the  college  department  of  his  life  were  as  clearly  manifest 
in  the  community  and  in  the  church  of  La  Grange.  He 
was,  at  an  early  period  of  his  settlement  there,  made  an 
elder  of  the  small  body  of  believers  in  the  town,  and  carried 
out  the  full  details  of  duty  marked  out  as  belonging  to  that 


John  Rennie  Blake,  A.  M.  341 

highly-honored  office.  He  was  in  this  office,  as  in  all  others 
in  which  he  was  called  to  serve,  " not  slothful  in  business, 
fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the  Lord."  As  a  Christian,  he  was 
esteemed  as  devoted,  and  ready  for  every  good  word  and 
work,  and  as  upholding  the  ministry  by  his  prayers,  coun- 
sel, and  sympathy.  As  a  citizen,  he  was  faithful  and  con- 
scientious in  all  the  demands  of  his  country ;  and  from  the 
beginning  of  the  terrible  civil  dissension  of  1861,  w^hich  re- 
sulted in  the  temporary  ruin  of  the  material  interests  of  his 
native  South,  he  was  an  unhesitating  and  open  believer  in  the 
righteousness  of  our  cause.  "Wliile  I  write  he  still  lives,  re- 
tired from  all  the  responsibilities  of  the  teacher's  life,  but 
at  his  own  homestead  in  South  Carohna,  in  otio  cum  dlgni- 
tate,  enjoying  the  entire  confidence  of  the  community  and 
the  church  around  him.  After  a  tolerably  long,  and, 
assuredly,  a  well-spent  Hfe,  he  is  suiTounded  by  the  friends 
of  his  early  boyhood,  awaiting,  not  in  idleness,  but  in  active 
ai:>plication  of  all  his  powers  to  usefulness  in  every  way,  the 
tranquil  old  age,  or  the  peaceful  summons  to  the  gracious 
reward  provided  for  all  those  who  hold  out  faithful  unto 
death. 

I  am  indebted  to  a  work  called  Semi- Centenary  Ad- 
dresses— Davidson  College,  published  in  1887,  for  some  au- 
thoritative statements  in  regard  to  Professor  Blake,  of  which 
I  gladly  avail  myself.  I  make  no  apology  for  devoting  thus 
much  of  my  history  to  this  sketch,  as  I  hold  that  it  is  but 
carrj'ing  out  in  reality  the  injunction  to  give  "honor  to 
whom  honor  is  due."  Says  Eev.  Dr.  Eumple,  of  North 
Carolina : 

"Professor  Blake's  administration  was  characterized  by 
excellent  order,  attention  to  study,  harmony  among  the 
Faculty,  and  thorough  scholai'ship  among  the  graduates. 
He  governed  by  the  Faculty,  whose  executive  officer  he  was, 
and  the  College  never  had  a  more  satisfactory  or  successful 
period  than  those  six  3'ears." 


342  John  N.  >Yaddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

Rev.  Mr.  Milner,  of  Georgia,  remarks  in  reference  to  Pro- 
fessor Blake :  "  His  subsequent  promotion  to  the  jiresidency 
of  the  institution  sufficiently  evinces  the  fact  that  his  chair 
was  ably  and  honorably  filled." 

From  the  long  and  eloquent  tribute  to  Professor  Blake 
furnished  by  Colonel  A.  R.  Banks,  of  South  Carolina,  to 
whom  had  bsen  assigned,  as  his  part  in  the  programme  of 
the  semi-centenary,  the  history  of  the  chairmanship  admin- 
istration, the  following :  "  In  his  twenty-six  years  of  college 
work  he  taught  in  every  department  of  the  college,  from  the 
geography  of  the  preparatory  to  the  philosophy  of  the  se- 
nior.    Not  once  during  this  whole  time  did  he  remit  the 

Bible For  all  these  extra  duties  and  labors  Professor 

Blake  received  no  extra  pay.  Nor  was  he  ever  heard  to 
complain  of  insufficient  salary.  '  In  labors  more  alnmdant, 
in  duties  above  measure,'  he  toiled  bravely  on  ;  the  interests 
of  the  college  were  his  interests,  her  advancement  his  high- 
est aim,  asking  no  better  reward  than  the  confidence  and 
reo-ard  of  his  co-laborers  and  the  Board  whom  he  served. 
Could  wo  call  back  those  who  labored  with  him,  now  gone 

to  give  an  account  of  their  stewardship, they  would, 

with  one  accord,  give  to  John  R.  Blake  the  plaudit,  "  "Well 
done,  good  and  faithful  servant!  " 

E.  C.  Smith,  Esq.,  of  Raleigh,  N.  C,  in  a  passing  com- 
pliment, speaks  of  him,  in  his  history  of  Dr.  Hepburn's  ad- 
ministration, as  "the  learned,  wise,  and  earnest  Blake." 

]\Iuch  more  mi-^-ht  be  written  of  Professor  Blake,  but 
these  facts  Avill  be  sufficient  to  show  that  the  crowning  ex- 
cellence of  a  teacher  is  not  simply  that  he  be  a  learned  man, 
a  splendid  scholar,  and  a  successful  instructor,  important 
and  essential  as  these  qualities  always  are,  but  that  he  be  a 
man  of  earnest  Christian  character,  teaching  by  example  as 
bv  precept,  living  out,  in  his  daily  intercourse  with  his 
pupils,  the  life  of  Christ,  and  thus  training  them  by  not  only 
conscious,  but  by  imconscious  tuition. 


James  Laiviivie  Meigs,  M.  A..  343" 

3.  James  Lamme  Meigs,  M.  A. 
This  gentleman,  T\liom  I  have  mentioned  among  the  mem- 
bers of  the  first  Faculty  of  La  Grange  College,  was  a  native 
of  the  town  of  Athens,  in  East  Tennessee.  He  was  born  on. 
February  25,  1827.  His  father,  the  wellknown  jurist^ 
Return  Jonathan  Meigs,  was  author  of  several  works,  long- 
held  as  eminent  authority  in  the  legal  profession,  being  Su- 
preme Court  Reports.  The  removal  of  this  gentleman  from 
Athens  to  Nashville  in  1835  furnished  ample  opportunities 
for  the  education  of  his  children.  There  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  Avas,  in  due  time,  entered  as  a  student  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Nashville,  and  was  graduated  from  that  institu- 
tion, which,  under  the  presidency  of  the  celebrated  Philip 
Lindsle}',  D.  D.,  became  the  Alma  Mater  of  so  large  a  num- 
ber of  the  distinguished  citizens  of  Tennessee  and  neighbor- 
ing States.  At  the  early  age  of  twenty-one  Professor  Meigs 
began  his  career  as  a  teacher  in  that  city,  On  account  of 
impaired  health,  he  became  engaged  in  engineering  surveys 
on  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad  in  1850,  and  con- 
tinued in  the  service  of  that  company  itntil  the  completion, 
of  the  road,  in  1857.  In  1854  he  had  been  elected  Profes- 
sor of  Mathematics  in  tho  University  of  Nashville,  but  his 
previous  engagements  prevented  his  acceptance  of  this  call. 
It  was  just  at  the  time  of  his  completion  of  the  term  of  ser- 
vice as  engineer  on  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad 
that  the  Synodical  College  at  La  Grange  was  organized  and 
the  Faculty  of  four  Professors  was  filled.  Mr.  Meigs  was 
unanimously  elected  to  the  chair  of  Mathematics  in  the  new 
institution,  and  filled  that  position  with  distinguished  suc- 
cess and  to  universal  acceptance  during  four  years,  until,  by 
the  occurrence  of  the  civil  war,  its  exercises  were  brought  to 
a  close.  After  this  Professor  Meigs  was  occupied  during 
the  progress  of  the  war  in  teaching,  having  been  first  super- 
intendent of  the  public  schools  in  Nashville,  and  then  in 


344  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

conducting  a  private  school  until  the  war  closed.  He  was 
again  called  into  the  service  of  the  Memphis  and  Charleston 
railroad  as  engineer  in  rebuilding  the  part  that  had  been 
destroyed  during  the  war.  In  1868,  '69,  and  '70  he  w^as  en- 
gineer of  the  Memphis  and  Little  Rock  railroad,  and  in 
1871-74  of  the  Paducah  and  Memphis  railroad.  Since  that 
time  he  has  been  engaged  in  teaching  and  in  river  and  har- 
bor surveys  on  the  Gulf  Coast,  in  the  employment  of  the 
government.  He  has  been  twice  married,  and  was  the  father 
of  a  son  and  a.  daughter,  the  former  only  surviving. 

The  foregoing  are  the  mere  particulars  of  his  life,  but  I 
feel  that  it  is  due  to  him  and  to  the  public  he  served  to  give 
the  record  of  his  moral  traits,  which  are  indelibly  stamped 
upon  my  memory,  and  w  hich  endeared  him  to  all  w^ho  knew 
Jiim. 

Professor  Meigs  was  naturally  a  man  of  amiable  and  high- 
loned  principle,  yet  of  most  decided  traits  of  virtue  and 
lionor.  He  was,  in  my  judgment,  one  of  the  purest  men  I 
liave  ever  known ;  but  in  addition  to  all  that,  he  was  a  man 
of  deep  and  ardent  j^iety — a  devoted  Christian.  As  a  pub- 
lic character,  in  charge  of  most  important  trusts,  his  integ- 
rity was  incorruptible,  his  honor  unimpeachable ;  as  a  dis- 
ciphnarian,  he  was  firm,  and  yet  kind ;  as  an  accomplished 
scholar  and  successful  teacher,  he  had  no  superior;  as 
a  Christian  gentleman  and  a  faithful  friend,  universally 
esteemed  and  beloved. 


CHAPTEK  XXIX. 

Becond  Session. — General  Character  of  the  Work  Done. — Mode  of 
Discipline. — Progress  of  the  Endowment. 

¥E  closed,  our  first  session,  1857-'58,  very  successfully, 
by  graduating  seven  young  men.  The  first  honor 
^as  given  to  a  young  man  who  had  left  the  University  of 
Mississippi  to  join  the  La  Grange  College  at  its  opening. 
Of  the  students  who  shared  the  second  honor  one  of  them 
•was  from  the  University  of  Mississippi,  and  the  other  from 
the  "West  Tennessee  College,  at  Jackson.  ^Ye  closed,  as 
already  stated,  with  119  students  on  our  roll,  in  all  depart- 
ments. The  second  session  opened  under  the  same  Faculty, 
in  the  college  proper,  but  the  preparatory  school  was  now 
organized  under  two  insti*uctors,  both  of  whom  were  origi- 
nally students  of  the  University  of  Mississippi,  the  princi- 
pal being  James  J.  Quarles,  who  was  first  honor  man  of  the 
&"st  graduating  class  of  that  institution  in  the  year  1851; 
ihe  assistant  being  a  graduate  of  1856  of  the  same.  There 
was  not  only  no  diminution  of  patronage,  but  an  increase  of 
:fifty-one  over  the  total  of  last  session.  The  distribution  of 
the  number  in  attendance,  by  classes,  the  second  session, 
Avas  as  follows,  viz.  :  Seniors,  7 ;  Juniors,  15 ;  Sophomores, 
31 ;  the  Freshmen,  33 ;  Scientific  Class,  23 ;  the  prepara- 
tory school,  61 ;  total,  170.  The  distribution  of  this  num- 
ber, by  States,  was  as  follows .  From  Tennessee,  86 ;  fi-om 
Mississippi,  73;  from  Arkansas,  4;  from  Louisiana,  4;  from 
Texas,  2  ;  from  Alabama,  1. 

The  session  v^as  characterized  by  a  creditable  devotion  to 
study,  and  a  gentlemanly  deportment  on  the  j^art  of  the 
-students,   so  that  everything  seemed  to   move  on  without 

345 


34G  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

friction  of  any  kind.  The  work  accomplished  by  the 
Faculty"  was  by  no  means  the  perfunctory  discharge  of 
duty,  but  each  of&cer  seemed  to  feel  the  responsibility  rest- 
ing upon  him  for  the  very  best  work  which  could  be  done 
under  all  circumstances.  Not  a  single  instance  of  college 
discipline  Avas  recorded,  and  peace,  harmony  and  cordiality 
prevailed  throughout  the  college  community. 

The  College  continued  its  career  of  usefulness  for  about 
three  regular  sessions,  with  an  attendance  of  126  students 
in  the  third  session,  and  the  number  in  the  broken  term  of 
1860-'61  cannot  be  stated,  in  which  last  jeav  the  regular 
operations  of  the  college  closed  in  April,  by  reason  of  the 
war,  which  began  then.  So  that  the  result  of  patronage  of 
the  four  sessions  (including  the  one  interrupted  thus)  may 
be  summarized  as  amounting  to  something  over  500  stu- 
dents. As  the  war  had  commenced  in  the  spring  by  the 
firing  of  the  first  gun  from  Fort  Sumter,  and  the  procla- 
mation of  President  Lincoln  calling  for  seventy-five  thousand 
soldiers  to  meet  the  South,  the  exercises  of  the  session 
were  brought  to  a  close  in  the  month  of  April,  1861,  and. 
"we  graduated  a  class  of  about  thirteen.  The  catalogue 
of  the  college  for  the  session  of  1860-'61  was  regularly 
made  out,  and  sent  to  New  York  for  ^publication,  and  I 
learned  was  actually  printed  and  ready  to  be  sent  down  to 
us,  but  it  was  considered  contra^>and  of  Kxir,  and  was 
never  received.  The  consequence  is  that  the  number  in  at- 
tendance cannot  be  recorded  save  by  conjecture. 

For  the  following  statements  in  regard  to  the  endowment 
of  the  College  I  am  indebted  to  the  Rev.  A.  H.  Caldwell, 
the  energetic  and  devoted  agent  appointed  by  the  Synod  to 
solicit  funds : 

"  January  20,  '90. 

"  1.  In  relation  to  the  scholarships  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity ($37,500),  the  whole  contribution  was  considered, 
after  one  or  two  j-ears'  trial,  as  an  incubus  on  the  institu- 


The  Coixege  of  La  Grange.  34T 

tion.  The  owners  of  scholarships  who  lived  not  far  off  were 
inclined  to  put  in  students  at  such  a  price  for  tuition  as  to 
lessen  the  income  of  such  students  to  the  amount  of  $20. 
With  the  advice  of  friends  of  the  College,  I,  as  agent  of  the 
College,  compromised  with  scholarship  holders,  returning 
their  scholarship  notes  for  what  cash  I  could  get.  I  tried 
to  displace  the  scholarships  within  six  or  eight  miles  of 
La  Grange.  I  sold  some  of  the  notes  for  $200  and  others 
for  less.  None  of  those  scholarships  were  ever  paid  in  any 
other  way. 

"  2.  The  salaries  of  Professors  for  the  last  3'ear  Avere  not 
fully  paid.  I  had  a  large  amount  of  railroad  stock,  which  I 
turned  over  to  them,  but  they  made  but  little  out  of  it. 

*'  3.  The  ten  thousand  acres  of  land  w^ere  retui-ned  to  Mr. 
E.  H.  Porter,  I  had  sold  and  taken  notes  for  the  amount 
of  $35,000,  of  which  all  was  lost  by  the  war. 

"  4.  The  trustees  made  ai)pHcation  to  Congress  for  dam- 
ages to  the  amount  of  $32,000.  The  Sj-nod  still  keeps  up 
the  corporation,  and  I,  as  President  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees, call  a  meeting  every  Synod  and  make  a  report. 

"  Gilbert  Moyers,  of  Washington  city,  is  our  attorney,  and 
he  encourages  us  to  hope  that  there  is  still  some  prospect  of 
success.  What  was  left  of  the  property  after  the  war  was^ 
all  turned  back  to  the  original  contributors." 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Hesignation   of   Dk.    Gray. — Election   of  His  Successor. — Corre- 
spondence WITH  Davidson  College  Authorities. 

IT  will  now  be  projDer  to  retrace  our  record  so  as  to  bring 
to  view  some  events  that  transpired  during  the  last  years 
of  the  College,  so  as  to  make  its  history  complete.  We  had 
found,  by  the  gradual  increase  of  our  patronage  and  the 
extent  of  the  territory  from  which  it  was  drawn,  that  there 
was  occasionally  introduced  into  our  body  of  students  an 
■element  of  evil-disposed  and  badly -trained  young  men  and 
boys  who  became  troublesome  and  difficult  to  control.  This 
is  the  experience  of  such  institutions,  and  under  such  a 
malign  influence,  it  is  generally  the  case  that  much  of  the 
same  spirit  of  insubordination  is  found  diffused  among  the 
other  students.  La  Grannfe  Colle^*e  did  not  form  an  ex- 
ception  to  this  state  of  things  :  for  while  there  was  never 
experienced  there  any  very  extensive  state  of  disorder 
among  the  students — none,  in  fact,  comparable  to  those  re- 
corded of  other  colleges  whoso  history  is  given — yet  enough 
of  trouble  of  this  sort  was  in  existence  to  require  vigilance 
and  to  demand  the  exercise  of  discipline  on  the  part  of  the 
Faculty ;  yet  it  was  always  readily  and  jnstly  disposed  of  by 
them.  After  the  first  three  sessions  had  been  successfully 
brought  to  their  respective  endings,  I  was  approached  on  a 
certain  occasion,  just  previous  to  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  at  Commencement  by  the  President,  Dr. 
Gray,  with  a  communication  which  surprised  me  not  a  little. 
He  announced  his  intention  to  place  his  resignation  of  the 
office  of  President  in  the  hands  of  the  Board  at  their  ensu- 
ing meeting.     I  gave  it  as  my  decided  opinion  that  he  ought 

348 


Elected  to  the  Presidency.  349 

not  to  resign,  and  combated  his  proposed  course  by  every 
consideration  drawn  from  the  fact  of  his  administration 
having  been  successful,  and  that  he  was  the  chosen  repre- 
sentative of  the  Synod  by  a  unanimity  which  no  other  man 
could  command.  But  he  resolutely  persisted  in  his  deter- 
mination, and  could  not  be  moved  by  any  representation 
that  I  could  make.  He  then  added,  further,  that  his  object 
in  this  movement  was  to  have  me  made  President.  To  this 
I  at  once  objected,  as  it  was  a  position  I  had  never  coveted, 
and  that  it  had  no  attractions  for  me  whatever ;  but  the  re- 
siDonsibilities  inseparable  from  it  were  altogether  repulsive 
to  my  tastes  and  inchnations.  His  reply  to  that  was,  that 
unless  I  would  agree  to  accept  the  office  he  would  not  only 
resign  the  presidency,  but  he  w^ould  abandon  the  institu- 
tion. The  matter  thus  remained  in  an  undecided  position, 
without  my  having  given  any  intimation  of  a  change  of 
views  on  the  subject,  until  the  Board  met,  w^hen  he  put  his 
plan  in  execution,  tendered  his  resignation,  and  it  was  ac- 
cepted by  the  Board.  On  his  projDosal  I  was  jxit  in  nomi- 
nation, and  unanimously  elected  his  successor. 

I  knew  very  well  that  Dr.  Gray's  main  and  influential 
reason  for  offering  his  resignation  was,  he  felt  the  annoy- 
ances and  vexations  of  the  government  of  the  college  as 
exerting  too  fearful  a  pressure  upon  his  nevous  tempera- 
ment, and  that  the  very  act  of  restraint  which  he  felt  to  be 
binding  upon  him  as  President  over  the  student  body,  and 
which  he  saw  to  be  called  for  so  frequently,  and  then  the 
execution  of  penalties  adjudged  as  the  consequence  of  vio- 
lation of  rule,  all  assumed  in  his  view,  and  before  his  tender 
and  gentle  disposition,  an  almost  frightful  aspect.  His 
three  years'  experience  of  college  presidency  had  only 
served  to  confirm  the  convictions  of  his  judgment  as  it  was 
swayed  by  all  his  feelings  and  habitudes. 

AYhen  the  action  was  communicated  to  me,  I  signified, 
very  decidedly,    my  unwillingness  to  accept  the  office   of 


350  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

President.  But  I  was  allowed  reasonable  time  in  which  to 
make  np  my  final  answer.  The  vacation  of  two  months 
was  on  us,  and  matters  remained  in  this  state  of  indecision 
until  the  fall  meeting  of  the  Synod  of  Memphis. 

It  was  just  about  this  time,  when  all  this  Avas  in  progress 
at  La  Grange,  that  a  very  singular  condition  of  affairs  was 
occurring  in  a  distant  part  of  the  country,  made  known  to 
me  in  the  following  series  of  letters,  directed  to  me  by  the 
Rev.  H.  H.  Morrison,  J).  D.,  of  North  Carolina,  and  others, 
bearing  upon  a  similar  subject. 

As  introductory  to  this  series  of  letters,  I  present  the 
following  communication,  dated  "April  24th,  18G0"  : 

No.  1. 

"  My  Dear  Brother  :  Rev.  Br.  Lacy,  who  has  been 
President  of  Ba^ddson  College  for  several  j^ears,  has  given 
notice  of  his  purj^ose  to  resign,  in  consequence  of  feeble 
health.  My  object  in  this  note  is  to  ascertain  if  you  would 
accept  the  presidency  of  our  college,  if  elected. 

"  Bavidson  is  strictly  a  Presbyterian  institution,  under  the 
care  of  three  Presbyteries  in  this  State  and  South  Carolina ; 
is  now  well  endowed,  having  received  over  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars  from  the  legacy  of  Mr.  Chambers.  It  is 
worth  nearly  $300,000.  We  are  now  about  completing  per- 
haps one  of  the  most  splendid  college  edifices  in  the  United 

States,  costing  over  $80,000 You  would 

find  with  us  the  co-operation  of  as  interesting  a  Presbyte- 
rian community  as  can  be  found  in  the  South,  and  might, 
by  God's  blessing,  do  a  great  work  for  the  prosperity  of  the 
church  and  the  good  of  society. 

"I  should  be  pleased  to  hear  fully  from  you  on  this  sub- 
ject, and  will  give  you  any  information  in  my  power.  The 
election,  I  presume,  will  be  at  our  next  Commencement,  in 

the  month  of  July I  hope  soon  to  hear  from 

you,  and  would  be  delighted  to  hear  in  favorable  terms. 

"  Very  truly  your  brother  in  Christ,      E.  H.  Morrison." 


Call  to  Davidson  College.  351 

In  repl/  to  this  wholly  unexpected  letter,  I  stated  to  Dr. 
Morrison  very  frankly,  that  I  could  not  possibly  accept  the 
presidency  of  Davidson  College,  even  if  elected;  that  I  Avas 
bound  to  serve  La  Grange  College  five  years  by  the  very 
terms  of  my  acceptance  of  the  chak  to  which  I  had  been 
elected.  In  answer  to  this,  which  I  regarded  as  suffi- 
ciently plain  and  decisive  to  end  the  correspondence,  I  re- 
ceived from  Dr.  Morrison  the  following  letter,  bearing  date. 

No.  2. 
"  Cottage  Home,  June  26^A,  1860. 

"  Eev.  and  Dear  Brother  :  I  had  a  letter  from  Dr.  B.  M. 
Smith,  a  few  days  since,  in  which  he  expressed  the  opinion 
that  if  you  should  be  elected  as  President  of  Davidson  Col- 
lege, and  strongly  sohcited,  you  might  accept  the  post. 

"  Your  letter  to  me  was  so  frank  and  explicit,  in  express- 
ing a  different  opinion,  that  I  then  concluded  that  it  was 
not  necessary  to  continue  the  correspondence. 

"  It  is  the  wish  to  leave  no  probability  of  success  untried 
that  induces  me  to  address  you  again.  Of  course,  I  seek 
not  to  induce  you  to  depart  from  any  assumed  obligation. 
But  it  has  occurred  to  me  that  possibly  j-our  friends  might 
be  willing  to  release  you  from  jouv  j^ledge  to  stay  five  years 
at  La  Grange.  I  doubt  whether  they  had  any  right  to 
exact  such  a  promise.  If  you  think  you  cannot  be  honorably 
released,  of  course  I  have  nothing  more  to  say.  If  you 
could  be,  I  would  feel  well  assured  of  your  election,  and 
that  you  would  do  a  great  and  good  work  for  the  church  in 
our  midst.     AVe  are  sadly  in  the  dark,  as  we  know  of  no 

Southern  man  fully  qualified  that  can  be  obtained 

Dr. ,  of ,  is  spoken  of,  but  some  of  the 

trustees  are  net  satisfied  with  him.  Various  others  are 
thought  of,  but  not  with  that  regard  which  will  secure  a 
united  vote.  If  you  have  anything  further  to  say,  I  would 
be  very  glad  to  hear  from  you. 


352  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

"  Oiu*  election  will  ba  about  the  16th  of  July.     There  i& 
time  to  hear  from  you  again,  if  you  write  without  delay. 
"  Very  truly,  your  friend  and  brother, 

"'  (Signed),  "  R.  H.  Mokkison." 

To  this  I  made  no  reply  at  all,  as  I  had  said  in  my  first 
communication  all  that  I  had  to  say  in  answer  to  his  fii'st 
proposition.  I  heard  nothing  more  from  Dr.  Morrison  on 
the  subject  of  these  two  letters,  until  some  time  after  the 
close  of  our  Commencement,  to  which  reference  has  been 
made  in  preceding  page,  at  which  time,  being  about  the  first 
week  in  July,  1860,  the  Trustees  of  La  Grange  College  had, 
by  a  unanimous  vote,  elected  me  to  the  presidency  as  Dr. 
Gray's  successor.  The  following  letter  was,  in  due  course 
of  mail,  received  by  me  from  Dr.  Morrison,  being  the  third 
communication  from  him  : 

No.  3. 
"  Cottage  Home,  July  IWi,  1860. 

"Rev.  and  Dear  Brother:  I  have  just  returned  from  a 
meeting  of  our  Trustees  of  Davidson  College. 

"As  an  election  for  President  had  to  take  place  yesterday, 
I  much  regretted  not  having  received  from  you  a  reply  to 
my  last  letter. 

"  Deeply  impressed  with  the  importance  of  having  a  first- 
rate  man  at  the  head  of  our  institution,  I  ventui'ed  to  lay 
your  claims  before  our  Board,  and  I  am  happy  to  say  you 
have  been  tinanimously  elected  President  of  our  college. 
The  salary  has  been  raised  from  $1,500  to  $2,000,  and  the 
use  of  a  good  house,  &c.  I  am  gratified  to  say  that  the 
vote  was  not  only  unanimous,  but  ardent  and  enthusiastic, 
as  much  so  as  I  have  ever  witnessed.  As  proof  of  this, 
many  of  our  best  ministers  were  most  solemnly  affected 
with  the  deep  conviction  that  it  was  the  interference  of 
God's  Providence  which  led  to  your  election.  !For  some 
time  before  the  vote  we  were  engaged  in  united  and  ear- 


Call  to  Davidson  College.  353- 

''pnit.     To  do  all  we  could  to  remore  the  difficulties  in  th! 
tlTiJsbT"*''  "^  ^«'^»-te  to  visit  .ouversortoa; 

isle  tSn     r of  r'       '■'""'^  '""^^^^  ""'^  f^^-".  -1'-. 

-u_\   son-xu-iaw,  Eufus  Barrino-er  K^n    ^x-oo  o        •  z    i 
commissioner.  .  a  ,>,'     '?"  T  pointed  om- 

of  «11  +1..  ^^       ••••...  And  now,  dear  brother,  in  view 

will  reopivp   -Fv.      .1     1         ^^  ^   ^^''^   received,   or 

nmiecene,  irom  tlie  leo-ao a- of  \Ty^   ni.       i  -, 

000    m«V.s.  ^^^^ac}  ot  .Ui.  Chambers,  about  $220- 

South    Ca.  !      u  t  n^^^^^  ^^  'f^  St^te  and 

United  States.     I  reTr  vou    o  ,T    "'  '""""^  ^"  *^« 

information.     We    onfid  n  l-^  °"%^^^^gf  ^^^  additional 

I  think  the  handof  G:d21it°'\t 't/Tf  r-^^"^^-- 
don.  show  you  the  rath  of  dut.-  '"  ^'^  ^""^  °'  ^"  ^•^^- 

"  Very  truly  your  brother  in  Christ, 

"(Signed),  "E.  H.  II0RBIS0.X." 

^' ^"'1  surprise  no  reader  of  this  record  thflt  T  ^       i       , 

::r"B;ir^  ™""^  ~;^-":;  ir  uti 

tire  hureh  wa  oneTf  «  "  "t'  "^"^  *'^°"«"'^-*  ^'^^  -- 
loved  nainTs'terof  21  H  "''*  '''''■''^'  ^^*^^'"«1'  »<1 1^- 
of  characwTn  /     Le^nt'  H^  "' ''.^^  ^^--^  -%^t 

confidence  was  reposeT  Da^  J„^°  Coi^™'  """"■^^' 
established  UDon  «  «„       -^^^Uson   College  also  was  then 


354  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

show  the  influence  that  was  brought  to  bear  upon  mo  in  this 
matter. 

A  very  strongly-written  and  earnest  communication  was 
received,  dated  July  14,  1860,  from  Messrs.  Rockwell,  Kerr, 
and  Mclvor,  who  were  then  Professors  in  the  Faculty  of  the 
College,  urging  my  acceptance.  Dr.  Lacy,  the  retiring 
President,  was  urgent  in  a  similar  letter.  Communications 
of  the  same  class  poured  in  upon  me  from  others,  "with  some 
of  whom  I  had  slight  acquaintance,  and  of  others  I  knew 
very  little,  if  anything  at  all.  Besides  the  official  notifica- 
tion of  my  election  from  Dr.  E.  Nye  Hutchison,  of  Char- 
lotte, secretary  of  the  Board,  I  received  a  long  letter  from 
Bev.  B.  M.  Smith,  D.  D.,  Professor  in  Union  Seminary, 
Yii'ginia ;  one  from  Rev.  "\V.  W.  Pharr,  of  Statesville  ;  two 
from  Bufus  Barringer,  Esq.  ;  one  from  Edwin  B.  Harris, 
Esq.,  &c.,  all  pressing  the  call  upon  me  most  strongly  in 
language  complimentary  and  kind,  exj)ressive  of  the  exalted 
estimate  in  which  they  wero  pleased  to  hold  me. 

I  answered,  I  suppose,  all  these  letters,  as  I  never  failed 
to  do  during  my  life,  when  the  letters  received  required  an 
answer,  as  I  considered  these  communications  all  jn'eemi- 
nently  merited  my  special  and  grateful  notice.  But  I  kept 
no  copies  of  my  replies.  My  final  response,  after  bestowing 
upon  the  subject  most  mature  and  prayerful  coDsideration, 
Avas,  as  far  as  I  now  recall  it,  about  to  this  effect ;  I  ex- 
pressed my  deep  and  abiding  sense  of  the  unusually  flatter- 
ing manner  in  which  I  had  been  honored  and  the  favorable 
impression  which  I  had  received,  and  even  went  so  far  as  to 
'>^'ithhold  a  final  declinature  of  the  of&ce  to  which  I  had  been 
elected.  I  placed  my  hesitancy  still  upon  the  ground  of  luy 
existing  pledge  to  the  Trustees  of  La  Grange  College,  but 
proposed  to  postpone  an  answer  until  after  the  approaching 
meeting  of  the  Synod  of  Memphis,  when  the  subject  of  my 
election  by  the  La  Grange  Board  would  be  reported  to  the 
Synod,  and  the   entire  subject  in  connection  with  my  ac- 


Call  to  Davidson  Collge.  355 

<?eptance  or  declinature  would  be  decided.  To  tliis  letter, 
addressed  to  Eev.  Dr.  Morrison,  President  of  the  Davidson 
College  Board,  I  received  in  due  time  the  following  answer : 

No.  4. 

"  Cottage  Home,  August  13,  1860. 

"Rev.  and  Dear  Bkother  :  Your  kind  letter  of  23rd  of 
July  was  received  in  due  time,  and  as  you  requested  that  I 
should  reply  to  it  after  the  meeting  of  our  Board,  I  will  do 
:so  without  delay.  I  am  gratified  to  say  that  our  trustees 
are  so  anxious  to  leave  no  fair  means  untried  to  obtain  your 
services  that  they  did  not  go  into  another  election,  but  agreed 
to  await  the  result  of  your  decision  after  the  meeting  of  your 
Synod.  You  will  infer,  I  trust,  from  this  fact,  our  united 
and  earnest  anxiety  to  have  you  take  charge  of  our  College, 
and  our  decided  hope  that  Providence  may  remove  the  ob- 
stacles in  3'our  way I  will  be  gratified  to  hear  from 

you  at  an  early  hour  after  the  action  of  your  Synod, 

"And  now,  dear  brother,  may  the  great  Head  of  the 
church  direct  you  and  all  concerned  in  this  matter  to  such 
results  as  may  be  for  His  glory. 

"  Very  truly,  your  brother  in  Christ, 

"(Signed)  R.  H.   Morrison." 


CHAPTER   XXXI. 

EouTiNE  or  College   Wokk. — Boarding   System. — DonisnTOKY  Plan 

DiSCUSCED, 

AS  regards  the  general  outline  of  the  system  of  the  Col- 
lege at  La  Grange,  it  did  not  differ  materially  from  the 
ordinary'  routine  of  departmental  work  from  that  piu'sued  in 
other  literary  institutions  of  that  day.     "^.Ye  have  it  recorded 
already  in  a  previous  part  of  this  memoir  that  the  students 
of  the  College  were  arranged  into  the  regular  four  classes, 
with  the  usual  names  to  designate  them,  viz.,  Senior,  Junior,. 
Sophomore,  and  Freshman,  and  with  the  usual  appropria- 
tion and  assignment  of  studies  belonging  to  each  class,  and 
each  requiring  an  academic  year  for  its  completion.    There, 
as  was  common  in  colleges  pursuing  the  regular  curriculum, 
we  found  it  necessary,  (in  order  to  meet  the  various  demands 
of  the  educating  community  around  us,  which  preferred  a 
more  jDractical  course  of  instruction  for  their  sons,)  that  we 
should  provide  a  system  of  English  and  scientific  study  for 
such  students.     Hence  we  added  what  we  called  the  Scien- 
tific Class.     Moreover,  the  deficiency  of  schools  preparatory 
to  a  collegiate  course  which  existed  induced  us  to  establish 
a  Primary  Department,  wherein  boys  should  be  prepared 
for  the  college  or  for  business  pursuits,  as  parents  might 
elect.     The  Scientific  Class  was  taught  by  the  regular  Fac- 
ulty, but  the  Primary  School  was  kept  entirely  separate, 
under  the  control  and  management  of  its  own  instructors, 
and  still  forming  a  j^art  of  the  whole  system,  under  the  same 
Board  of  Trustees.     Besides  this,  there  was  adopted,  from 
the  very  beginning,  a  different  mode  of  management  of  the 
boarding  and  lodging  system  of  students.     The  old,  time- 

356 


College  Arrangements.  357 

honored  plan  of  the  dormitory  for  the  accommodation  of 
students,  with  its  necessary  accomiDaniment  of  "Commons  " 
or  -Steward's  Hall,"  was  ignored  by  the  founders  of  La 
Grange  College,  and  for  two  reasons : 

1.  They  had  no  funds  provided  for  such  purpose.     To  be 
sure,  there  seemed  then  a  fair  prospect  of  raisiug  money  for 
the  endowment  and  inyesting  it  in  productive  stock,  so^hat 
the  salaries  of  the  Profossors  might  be  promptly  paid;  and 
that  seemed  to  the  Trustees  to  be  the  first  and  most  im- 
portant object  to  be  secured.     So  that,  having  obtained  an 
eligible  lot  of  sufficient  extent  on  a  beautiful  eminence  in 
the  eastern  part  of  La  Grange,  a  large  building  of  brick  was 
erected,  consisting  of  a  basement  sufficiently  capacious  to 
accommodate  the  Primary   Department,   and   two   stories 
above  that.     On  the  first  floor  above  this  basement  there 
were  four  large  rooms  for  the  purposes  of  recitation  and  ap- 
paratus, and  also  four  of  the  same  size  on  the  second  floor 
above.     The  two  rooms  on  the  front  were  occupied  by  the 
two  Literary  Societies,  whose  names  were  the  Phi-Mu  and 
the  Eunomian  ;  the  two  in  the  rear  of  these  were  appro- 
priated to  the  Libraiy  and  to  recitation  uses.     The  chapel 
was  a  large  room,  the  dimensions  of  which  were  more  than 
sufficient  to  accommodate  all  tho  classes  at  morning  prayers 
and,  on   Commencement  occasions,  a  yeiy  large  audience 
could  be  easily  seated.     Haying  accomphshed  this,  the  funds 
could  not  with  safety  be  appHed  to  any  additional  building 
It  IS  due  to  the  students,  however,  to  record  that,  partly 
from  a  desire  to  have  the  halls  for  regular  meetings  of  theii- 
Literary  Societies  more  secluded  from  the  main  building 
and  partly  from  their  pride  in  the  more  respectable  and  im' 
posmg  aspect  it  would  give  to  the  College  campus,  they  re- 
solved, each  Society  for  itself,  to  erect  a  fine  building,  to  be 
located  the  one  on  the  north  and  the  other  on  the  south  side 
of  the  avenue  leading  from  the  front  gate  to  the  entrance 
or  portico  of  the  College  bmlding,  and  in  convenient  distance 


358  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

from  it.  They  had  goii3  so  far  with  the  enterprise  as  to 
have  raised,  by  subscription,  very  nearly  the  amount  re- 
quired to  erect  the  buildings,  when  this,  with  every  other 
material  improvement,  was  arrested  by  the  discouraging 
prospects  of  the  civil  war,  and  nothing  further  was  attempted 
in  this  line  of  oj)erations. 

2.  Another  reason  for  rejecting  the  dormitor}^  system  was 
the  evil  moral  influence  exerted  upon  a  student  body  by 
having  them  thrown  together  in  one  building  in  large  num- 
bers, separated  from  the  genial  and  humanizing  influence 
of  the  family  circle  ;  so  that  the  arrangement  was,  from  the 
beginning,  adopted,  that  the  students  were  to  be  received 
by  the  families  of  the  citizens  of  La  Grange,  boarding  and 
lodging  with  them  as  members  of  the  household.  The  ob- 
jections to  the  dormitory  system  are,  in  the  opinion  of  many 
experienced  educators,  numerous  and  weighty.  A  few  of 
them  may  be  mentioned. 

It  is  unnatural,  because  it  substitutes  the  ciowding  to- 
gether of  young  men  and  boys,  instead  of  the  divinely  or- 
dained assembly  which  is  recognized  as  tJie  family.  It  i^ 
notorious  that  nothing  is  more  demoralizing,  even  in  the 
case  of  mature  men,  than  that  they  gather  in  crowds  in 
any  capacit}^  habitualh',  in  clubs,  from  which  are  excluded 
the  more  elevated  class  of  females.  This  is  found  to  be  more 
universally  the  case  among  boj^s  and  immature  young  men. 

This  danger  is  greatly  aggravated  by  their  being  congre- 
gated together  in  adjacent  sleej^ing  chambers  at  night. 
Instead  of  spending  their  time  in  application  to  study, 
which  is  the  prime  object  in  view  in  this  system,  they  are 
tempted  to  visit  each  other,  to  play  at  unlawful  games,  or  to 
go  out,  under  cover  of  the  darkness  of  night,  to  places- 
utterly  ruinous  to  health  and  morals. 

But  in  reply  to  this  it  has  been  supposed,  and  urged  as  a 
presei'^^ative  influence,  that  members  of  the  Faculty  are  gen- 
erally on  the  ground,  and  that  it  is  made  a  part  of  their 
duty  to  visit  the  rooms  of  the  students,  especially  at  night. 


The  Dormitory  Plan  in  Colleges.  359 

and  thus  to  enforce  the  requisitions  of  the  law  in  regard  to 
keeping  their  rooms  and  studying.  In  answer  to  that,  while 
I  admit  that  the  system  of  the  dormitory  for  college  stu- 
dents seems  to  demand  something  of  this  sort,  I  hold  at  the 
same  time  that  it  constitutes  one  of  the  most  serious  and 
grave  evils  connected  with  it.  It  makes  the  Faculty  a  police 
force,  and  j)resupposes  that  the  students  are  unworthy  to  be 
trusted.  "  Give  a  boy  a  bad  name,"  and  he  will  be  tempted 
to  win  and  wear  that  name,  and  he  will  be  alienated  at  onco 
from  his  professor,  and  the  professor  himself  will  lose  his- 
self -respect,  and  feel  degraded  by  such  a  system  of  espion- 
age. If  such  a  thing  must  be  carried  out,  better  convert 
our  literary  institutions  at  once  into  military  encampments, 
and  our  professors  into  sentinels.  I  have  heard  a  professor, 
who  was  trained  in  the  West  Point  Academy,  say  that,  even 
under  the  strict  regime  demanded  there,  midnight  debauch- 
ery and  dissipaticm  w^as  by  no  means  rare  among  the  cadets. 
This,  from  the  very  nature  of  the  case,  could  not  occur  so 
frequently  and  in  so  aggravated  a  manner  with  students 
domiciled  in  refined  and  respectable  famihes.  It  is  true 
that  it  is  not  to  be  denied  that  the  attractions  found  in  such 
famihes  are  sometimes  powerful  temptations  to  excessive 
social  intercourse,  to  the  neglect  of  study  and  preiDaratiou 
for  scholastic  duty,  and  it  may  be  true  that  some  students- 
may  be  found  boarding  in  such  families  who  cannot  be  in- 
fluenced, by  such  surroundings,  to  anything  good.  That  is 
incident  to  human  nature,  and  as  there  are,  in  all  classes  of 
mankind,  those  who  break  over  all  restraints,  it  will  not  be 
expected  that  boys,  as  a  class,  are  to  be  exceptions  to  that 
which  is  universal.  Yet,  after  all,  it  is  indisputable  that  of 
the  two  systems — the  cloister,  or  the  family — whatever  dis- 
advantage may  be  found  incident  to  the  latter  is  certainly 
overbalanced,  and,  ia  some  measure,  compensated  by  the 
confessedly  refining  influences  inherent  in  it,  and  the  ab- 
sence of  the  more  lowering,  and  (sometimes)  degrading 
effects  growing  out  of  the  former. 


CHAPTEK   XXXII. 

The  Meeting-  of  the  Synod  in  1860,  and  the  Final  Decision  or  the 
Question. — The  Election  of  Lincoln.  ^ — The  Close  of  the 
Fourth  Session  of  the  College,  and  the  End  of  the  College. 

THE  question  on  ^Yhicll  I  was  now  to  give  my  final  deci- 
sion was  one  of  grave  importance,  and  the  consideration 
■of  tlie  subject  gave  me  great  concern.  The  arguments  that 
urged  me  to  decide  in  favor  of  La  Gi'ange  w^ere,  that  I  was 
committed  to  this  enterprise,  and,  without  considering  my- 
self as  any  more  essential  to  its  success  than  any  other  mem- 
ber of  the  Faculty,  the  fact  was  that  no  one  of  the  corps  of 
instructors  could  be  spared  from  the  College,  as  such  an 
•event  would  be  considered  a  confession  of  want  of  confidence 
in  the  success  of  the  institution.  Then  there  was  my  pledge 
given  to  the  authorities  that  I  would  continue  in  their  ser- 
vice for  five  years,  upon  their  pledge  of  support,  w^hich  thus 
far  had  been  fulfilled.  In  addition  to  these  facts,  I  felt  that 
the  Synod  should  put  forth  more  united  and  determined 
and  earnest  efforts  to  render  the  endowment  a  success,  and 
I  made  up  my  mind  to  remain,  accepting  the  presidency  of 
La  Grange  College,  on  condition  that  the  endowment  should 
be,  as  soon  as  possible,  raised  to  $200,000,  and  the  salary  of 
the  President  fixed  at  $2,500.  This  last  item  was  added  in 
consideration  of  the  fact  that  no  house  was  provided  by 
them  for  the  President,  whereas  the  salary  of  the  President 
at  Davidson  was  $2,000,  and  a  residence  rent  free.  When 
the  Synod  met  at  Germantown  these  terms  were  agreed  to, 
and  I  signified  my  aecej^tance  of  the  presidency  to  which  I 
had  been  chosen  in  July. 

I  remarked,  in  my  answer  to  Dr.  Morrison's  last  commu- 

360 


Accepts  the  Presidency  of  La  Grange.  361 

nicatioii,  that  the  same  thing  on  which  he  very  naturally 
laid  such  emjohasis  in  my  election  at  Davidson  College,  viz., 
that  the  unanimity  of  the  vote  immediately  followed  upon  a 
solemn  season  spent  in  earnest  and  united  prayer  by  the 
Board,  had  occurred  in  the  conduct  of  the  La  Grange  Board, 
that  prayer  offered  by  them  was  followed  by  the  very 
same  result,  viz.,  my  unanimous  election.  Moreover,  that 
the  interpretation  placed  upon  the  action  of  the  Da^idson 
board  by  Dr.  Morrison  and  others  was  placed  by  the  La 
Grange  Board  upon  their  action,  that  it  surely  indicated  the 
clearest  call  of  divine  Providence  on  me.  It  could  only  be 
decided,  therefore,  by  other  considerations,  as  they  pre- 
sented themselves.  I  accordingly  felt  constrained  to  accept 
the  call  of  La  Grange,  highly  as  I  felt  myself  honored  by 
the  Davidson  Board,  and  grateful  as  I  acknowledged  their 
kindness  through  the  whole  transaction. 

On  the  adjournment  of  the  Synod  we  resumed  work  in  the 
College,  with  full  numbers,  and  with  no  audible  mutterings 
■of  the  coming  storm  in  the  j^olitical  sky  until  in  November, 
1860,  when  the  whole  southern  part  of  the  country  was,  as 
by  an  earthquake,  shaken  to  its  centre  by  the  election  of 
Abraham  Lincoln  to  the  presidency  of  the  United  States. 

The  effect  of  this  event  upon  the  j^i'ogi'ess  of  the 
■finances  of  the  college  was  disastrous,  as  has  been  already 
stated  in  the  former  pages  of  this  memoir.  Yet,  strange  to 
Tecord,  few  of  the  people  of  the  South  felt  apprehensive  of 
actual  war.  I  even  recall  a  public  meeting  (not  very  largely 
attended,  it  is  true,)  when  a  certain  speaker  took  the  ground 
that  there  was  no  reason  for  serious  apprehension;  that 
Mr.  Lincoln  would  make  a  wise  and  good  President,  and 
all  things  would  come  right,  etc.,  etc.  But  when  South 
CaroHna  w^as  rapidly  followed  by  State  after  State  in  seces- 
sion ordinances,  and  all  efforts  for  a  peaceful  adjustment  by 
conventions  of  committeemen  in  Washington  City  failed  to 
effect  any  satisfactory  arrangement,  and  war  seemed  inevi- 


362  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

table,   then  we  began  to  realize  that  perilous  times  were 
uj)on  us  and  before  us. 

The  excitement,  which  w^as  spreading  far  and  wide  over 
the  country,  was  quickly  felt  among  all  the  student-bodies 
of  the  Southern  colleges  and  universities.     Our  students 
were  greatly  aroused,  and  at  a  meeting  called  to  consider 
the  state  of  matters,  especially  as  concerned  those  of  them 
who  were  old  enough  to  enlist  in  the  army,  a  very  animated 
discussion  was  engaged  in,  strong  and  eloquent   speeches 
were  delivered  by  leading   and  influential   speakers.     The 
object,  which  was  a  foregone  conclusion,  was  that  the  exer- 
cises of  the  institution  would  be  necessarily  closed,  but  the 
matter  in  debate  was,  as  to  the  proper  manner  in  which  this 
object  should  be  brought  about.     Some  of  the  most  ardent 
and  fiery  disputants  were  in  favor  of  summarily  ending  the 
college   operations  by  an  unceremonious   leave-taking   and 
departure.     But   better  and  wiser  counsels   prevailed ;    it 
was  decided  that  a  communication  should  be  laid  before  the 
Faculty,  representing  the  state  of  things,   and  requesting 
that  the  Senior  Class  should  be  permitted  to  take  their  De- 
grees of  B.  A.,  and  that  a  day  should  be  set  for  an  examina- 
tion of  that  class.     The  anniversary  of  the  Eunomian  So- 
sciety  being  published  for  the  25th  April,  and  not  far  from 
this  date  was  suggested  as  the  proper  time  for  a  delivery 
of  the  dij^lomas  to  the  class.     To  this  proposal,  after  some 
deliberation,  the  Faculty  agreed,  and  accordingly  we  made 
the  arrangement  to  anticij)ate  the  usual  annual  close  of  the 
term  by  some  two  months.     AVc  exaniined  the  Senior  Class 
of  thirteen,  assigned  the  first  honor  to  "W.  C.  Gray,  son  of 
Dr.  Gray,  and  decided  to  divide  the  second  distinction  be- 
tween Charles  V.  Thompson  and  Henry  M.  Payne,  the  former 
of  Tennessee,  and  the  latter  of  Mississippi.     As  the  two  so- 
cieties had  elected  their  anniversary  orators  some  time  pre- 
'sdously,  viz  :  Henry  M.  Payne  for  the  Eunomian,  and  George 
"W.  Hope  for  the  Phi-Mu,  they  delivered  their  orations,  and 


The  College  in  War-Tdhes.  363 

•with,  the  public  delivery  of  diplomas  we  dismissed  the  stu- 
dents and  closed  oiu*  exercises  on  April  25, 1861. 

The  students  "who  were  old  enough  became  greatly  ex- 
cited, and  many  of  them  at  as  early  a  period  as  possible 
after  reaching  home  volunteered,  and  joined  the  various 
companies  that  were  being  organized  and  drilled  for  the 
Southern  army. 

Professors  Blake  and  Meigs  of  course,  retired  from  ser- 
vice, but  as  we  "broke  up  in  much  admired  disorder,"  there 
w^ere  no  regular  resignations,  as  there  was  no  Board  of 
Trustees  to  receive  them,  but  the  dark  and  dismal  future 
lay  out  all  undiscovered  before  us.  Dr.  Gray  and  I  were 
now  left  alone,  so  far  as  work  was  concerned  in  the  college, 
and  we  were  spending  a  quiet  summer  in  La  Grange,  yet 
watching  with  deep  interest  and  anxiety  the  j)i'ogress  of 
affairs  throughout  the  land,  both  North  and  South.  Thus- 
ended  the  fourth  regular  session  of  La  Grange  College. 
Bat  as  yet  no  hostile  tread  of  the  enemy  had  marked  the 
beginning  of  war's  desolating  march  over  our  Southern  soil, 
but  ominous  notes  of  preparation  were  heard  in  the  dis- 
tance, and  the  South  and  the  North  were  assembling  their 
forces  and  accumulating  their  resources,  and  massing  their 
armaments  for  the  deadly  conflict  soon  to  be  joined. 

The  S^nod  of  Memphis  held  its  annual  sessions  at  the 
the  time  to  which  it  had  adjourned,  and  the  place  of  the 
meeting  was  in  the  College  Church,  then  a  strong  body  of 
Presbyterians  in  the  county  of  La  Fayette,  Mississippi, 
about  five  miles  distant  from  Oxford.  Among  the  matters 
of  business  demanding  the  attention  of  the  Synod  was  the 
state  and  prospects  of  La  Grange  College.  The  question 
as  to  the  continuance  of  its  academic  operations  under  the 
discouraging  out-look  and  disturbed  condition  of  the  coun- 
tiy,  was,  after  consideration,  decided  to  the  effect,  that  Dr. 
Gray  and  I  should  reopen  the  College  and  advertise  for  stu- 
dents.    We  were  authorized  to  appoint  to  the  vacant  chairs- 


M4:  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

of  the  Faculty,  two  professors,  and  call  them  into  service. 
At  the  earliest  possible  i)eriod  after  the  adjournment  of 
Synod,  we  met  and  invited  to  the  chair  of  Mathematics  and 
Astronomy,  Henry  F.  Scott,  a  j^oung  man  who  had  been 
graduated  in  1859,  with  the  highest  honors  of  his  class  in 
the  college.  To  the  chair  of  Chemistry  and  Natural  Phil- 
osophy, we  invited  Eev.  Edwin  Cater,  then  pastor  of  the 
church  in  Somerville,  while  Dr.  Gray  held  his  chair  of  Men- 
tal and  Moral  Philosophy,  and  I  continued  to  teach  the  an- 
cient languages.  Thus  organized,  we  began  our  work  with 
those  3'oung  boys  of  the  ages  varying  from  fourteen  to  seven- 
teen who  were  still  in  their  La  Grange  homes,  but  not  long 
after  we  opened  the  school  students  began  to  arrive  from 
distant  parts  of  the  country.  "We  had  students  from  the 
neighborhood  of  Natchez  and  Vicksburg.  Two  of  those 
who  had  belonged  to  the  Junior  class  of  1860-'61  returned 
and  formed  our  Senior  class.  The  entire  number  present 
during  the  term  did  not  exceed  thirty.  We  continued  our 
work  in  this  way  until  the  fall  of  Fort  Donaldson.  It  was 
felt  then  that  the  seat  of  war  w  as  drawing  so  near  to  us  that 
it  would  be  imprudent  to  undertake  our  college  work,  and 
we  closed  up  the  institution  summarily,  and  after  a  credit- 
able final  examination  of  our  two  seniors  admitted  them  to 
the  degree  of  B.  A.  It  was  soon  after  this  that  Tennessee 
and  Kentucky  were  invaded  by  the  Federal  troops,  and  the 
disastrous  battle  of  Shiloh  was  fought,  which  ultimately 
opened  the  way  to  the  overrunning  of  Tennessee  and  Missis- 
sippi to  a  considerable  extent.  La  Grange  was  visited  on 
some  three  or  four  different  occasions  by  raiding  parties, 
but  it  was  not  permanently  occupied  until  toward  the  close  of 
the  year  1862,  when  after  the  fall  of  Corinth  the  Northern 
army  was  massed  in  heavy  force  on  the  Memphis  and 
Charleston  P.  P.,  covering  a  stretch  of  country  some  ten 
miles  in  length,  and  even  more  planting  themselves  in  force 
at  various  points,  to  the  terror  and  distress  of  the  inhabi- 


AVar  Experiences.  365 

tants.     The  town  from  that  time  was  never  free  from  a  garri- 
son, more  or  less  numerous  and  troublesome,  until  the  close 
of  the  war.     I  remained  in  the  place  with  my  family,  consist- 
ing of  my  two  daughters  and  my  youngest  boy,  (the  elder 
son,  George,  having  volunteered  just  after  the  fall  of  Fort 
Donaldson,)  and  was  subjected  to  very  great  aggravations 
and  annoyances.     I  was  forced  to  give  up  my  house  as  the 
head-quarters  of  the  notorious  Gen.  John  A.  Logan,  who 
allowed  me  two  back  rooms  for  my  own  use,  and  another 
for  my  daughters,  while  he  occupied  the  parlor  for  his  own 
use,  and  my  study  was  the  office  of  his  chief  of  staff,  or  A. 
A.  G.     He  remained  there  three  weeks,  and  while  he  did  not 
subject  me  to  any  insult  or  outrage,  yet  he  and  his  aid  kept 
the  house  and  the  yard  crowded  with  squads  of  private  sol- 
diers by  day,  and  they  were  frequently  engaged  in  Bacchana- 
lian revels  at  night.     The  consequence  of  all  this  w^as  that 
when  the  General  with  his  troops  evacuated  the  premises,  the 
rooms  occupied  by  them  presented  the  appearance  of  hav- 
ing been   occupied  l^y  any  class    of   tenants   but  that  of 
gentlemen.     The   furniture  was  injured,  carpets,  etc.,  were 
trampled  by  muddy  feet  of  soldiers,  as  it  was  held  by  Logan 
during  a  spell  of  rainy  weather,  so  that  there  was  nothing 
decent  about  the  premises.     I  will  only  add,  by  anticipa- 
tion, to  this,  that  the  Federal  soldiers  who  were  left  in  La 
Grange  (when  the  main  body  of  the  army  was   ordered 
South  through  Mississippi),  as  they  remained  there,  succes- 
sively in  one  set  or  another  as  a  garrison,  tore  down  the  Col- 
lege building  and  used  the  bricks  to  build  huts,  and  chim- 
neys to  their  tents,  until  there  was  hardly  a  vestige  left,  or 
trace  of  the  La  Grange  College  to  indicate  the  spot  where 
it  once  stood.     With  this  ends  the  story  of  La  Grange  Col- 
lege. 


CHAPTER   XXXIII. 

Further  Notes  of  War  Experience  in  La  Grange,  and  my  Escape 

FROM  THE  Lines. 

AFTER  the  advance  southward  of  Grant's  army,  includ- 
ing the  corps  commanded  by  General  Logan  and  that 
of  General  Sherman,  I  remained  in  La  Grange  surrounded 
on  all  sides  by  the  rude  soldiery,  and  suffered  much  grievous 
annoyance  from  them.  There  resided  in  La  Grange  a  South- 
ern man,  a  merchant,  who  was  a  "Union  man,  wholly  un- 
j)rincipled,  and  when  the  army  of  Grant  occupied  the  town 
he  was  among  the  first  to  make  fair  weather  with  the  Fed- 
eral authorities.  It  so  came  about  that,  being  j^ersonally  a 
devoted  friend  of  Dr.  Gray,  he  interceded  with  the  com- 
mander to  allow  Dr.  Gray  to  take  a  modified  form  of  alle- 
giance, and  thus  be  protected  from  the  marauding  bands. 
He  had  formed  an  idea,  too,  that  such  a  privilege  would  be 
accorded  to  me.  But  the  officer,  an  upstart  in  a  httle  brief 
authority,  refused  to  admit  me  to  any  such  leniency,  as  he 
decided  that  I  was  too  great  a  rebel.  On  a  certain  Satur- 
day morning,  as  I  was  seated  in  my  room,  I  had  placed  in 
my  hands  by  an  orderly  a  communication  from  this  Provost- 
marshal,  who  was  in  command  at  that  time  in  La  Grange, 
which  was  thus  expressed: 

"  Pkovost-Mahshal's  Office, 

"La  Grange,  Tenn.,  Dec.  13,  1862. 

"Rev.  J.  N.  Waddel, 

"Sir:  Until  you  have  identified  yourself  as  a  citizen  of 
the  United  States,  by  reneA\ing  youi'  allegiance  to  the  gov- 

366 


"War  Experiences.  367 

^rnment    and   constitution    thereof,    you   will    discontinue 
your  labors  as  a  minister  of  the  g-osj^el  in  this  place. 

"  You  have  hitherto  used  all  the  means  in  j'our  power  to 
aid  this  '  wicked '  rebellion,  and  your  labors  have  been  suc- 
cessful in  creating  suuering-  and  death  amid  a  once  happy 
people.  Instead  of  being  an  humble  follower  of  our  Saviour, 
endeavoring  to  save  a  dying  world  from  their  sins,  you  have 
stirred  dissensions,  created  estrangements  in  families,  and 
urged  'vile  treason'  toward  the  best  government  that  God 
ever  created  upon  earth. 

"Instead  of  proving  yourself  a  bright  and  shining  light, 
you  have  sown  the  seeds  of  darkness,  disunion,  dissensions, 
and  death.  All  your  blessings  have  changed  into  curses.  I 
trust  you  have  seen  the  error  of  your  ways,  and  that  you  will 
a,cknowledge  the  justice  of  these  plain-spoken  words. 
"  Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"F.  F.  Peats,  Major  and  Provost-Marshall 

When  I  read  this  note,  I  was  convinced  that  it  was  de- 
signed to  frighten  me  into  doing  what  was  then  considered 
the  deepest  disgrace  among  Southerners,  viz. :  the  taking  the 
oath  of  allegiance,  and  as  I  not  only  was  unwilling  to  take 
a  course  such  as  to  incui-  the  odium  of  such  an  act,  as  I  was 
determined  not  to  violate  my  conscience,  I  made  up  my 
mind  to  avoid  any  collision  with  the  authorities.  Dr.  Gray 
and  I  had  never  discontinued  our  alternate  preaching  in  the 
church  on  account  of  the  presence  of  the  Federal  army, 
who  had  attended  divine  service  in  large  crowds  during  their 
occupation  of  the  place.  I  had  an  appointment  to  preach 
in  the  La  Grange  church  for  the  very  next  day  (Sabbath, 
14th  December),  and  had  made  no  other  calculation  than  to 
fill  the  pulpit  as  usual.  But  the  receipt  of  this  order  from 
the  redoubtable  Major  Peats,  brought  me  to  a  decision  which 
induced  a  reconsideration  of  my  plan,  not  only  in  regard  to 
the  next  day,  but  also  in  connection  with  my  future  course, 


368  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

for  an  indefinite  x:>eriod.  I  determined  to  remain  at  home 
on  the  next  day  and  decline  to  fill  the  appointment.  I  be- 
lieved that  there  had  been  a  plan  concocted  by  the  Major 
and  others  to  allow  me  to  enter  the  pulpit  and  then  to  arrest 
me  for  disobedience  of  orders,  and  the  next  step  would  be 
to  require  me  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  if  I  should  i 
refuse  to  do  so,  I  took  it  for  granted  that  I  should  be  sent 
to  some  Northern  prison.  I  had  no  opportunity  to  consult 
with  friends,  but  committed  the  whole  matter  to  God,  im- 
ploring divine  guidance  and  protection.  Accordingly,  at  the 
usual  hour  for  Sabbath-school  services,  my  children  Avent  to 
the  church,  and,  by  ray  authority,  stated  to  the  superinten- 
dent that  I  should  not  preach  that  morning.  I  spent  the  time 
alone  during  the  hours  devoted  to  the  Sabbath-school.  I 
learned  that  there  was  the  usual  crowd  of  Federal  ofiicers 
and  soldiers  in  attendance,  and,  if  my  conjectures  in  regard 
to  the  proposed  arrest  w^ere  correct,  there  perhaps  was  a  dis- 
aj)pointment  felt  by  those  who  were  admitted  to  a  knowledge 
of  the  plan,  that  I  failed  to  carry  out  the  part  of  the  pro- 
o-ramme  that  had  been  assigned  to  me.  But  perhaps  I  may 
not  have  interpreted  the  authorities  correctly ;  I  knew  that 
such  things  had  occurred  with  others,  and  I  supposed  that 
they  might  occur  in  iny  case.  At  all  events,  I  had  no  more 
intercourse  wdth  Maj.  Peats,  or  any  other  of  the  officers  then 
in  La  Grange,  with  regard  to  my  acting  as  a  minister,  or  on 
any  other  subject  whatever.  But  the  conclusion  to  which 
my  mind  was  tending,  and  to  which  it  was  ultimately 
brought,  was,  that  La  Grange  was  no  suitable  place  for  my 
residence ;  and  I  formed  the  resolution  to  make  my  escape 
from  the  Federal  lines  at  the  earhest  possible  period. 

I  shaped  my  course  deliberately  and  in  consultation  with 
only  two  of  my  friends,  one  of  whom  was  my  brother-in-law 
and  devoted  friend,  Dr.  Gray,  and  the  other  friend  was  my 
kind  and  prudent  neighbor,  and  family  physician,  Dr.  J.  J. 
Pulliam.     With  these  friends  I  held  frequent  conferences, 


War  Experiences.  3^9: 

and  the  plan  ultimately  adopted  ^iU  now  be  stated.  Two 
or  more  matters  of  prime  imiiortance  were  to  be  provided 
for,  and  arranged  to  make  every  part  of  the  plan  a  success. 
1.  As  I  must  leave  my  children  behind,  it  was  necessary 
that  some  place  should  be  secured  for  them,  as  I  knew  that 
all  my  household  would  be  ransacked  and  evervthing  acces- 
sible  would  be  confiscated  as  soon  as  my  escai^e  should  be- 
come  known.  It  was  arranged  that  they  should  be  taken  at 
once  to  the  residence  of  Dr.  Gray,  and  make  that  their  home 
until  I  should  be  enabled  to  make  ether  arrangements. 

2.  Transportation   by  private   conveyance   must   be  ob- 
tamed,  as  even  if  the  trains  should  be  running,  it  would  be^ 
manifestly  impossible  for  me  to  take  that  method  of  escape, 
as  my  movements  must  be  of  the  most  secret  nature.    It  was 
so  ordered,  in  the  providence  of  God,  that  a  friend  of  Dr. 
Gray's  had  not  long  previously  made  him  a  present  of  a  very 
fine  horse,  and  there  was  an  absolute  certainty,  or,  at  least 
the  strongest  probabihty,  that  if  the  horse  should  be  kept 
m  the  stable,  or  on  his  premises,  it  would  be  taken  by  the 
soldiers  who  occupied  the  town,  and  that  he  should  lose  his 
horse.     It  was  decided,  therefore,  that  I  should  take  the 
animal  and  ride  him  on  my  unknown  journey.      Further- 
more, Dr.  Gray's  son-in-law  had  just  come  to  La  Grange  a 
short  time  previous  to  its  occupancy  by  the  army,  and  was 
on  a  visit  to  his  family,  from  some  post  where  he  had  been 
stationed  by  the  Confederate  authorities.     Of  course,  it  was 
a  matter  of  the  last  importance  that  he  should  lelve  the 
hues  of  the  Federal  army  at  the  earhest  period  possible. 
He  had  his  own  horse  already  provided,  and  only  waited  the 
proper  time  for  a  secret  departure.     He  and  I  agreed  to  go 
together,  but  when,  and  by  what  route,  remained  to  be  de- 
termined. 

3.  There  were  three  young  boys,  one  a  son  of  Dr.  Gray 
another  a  son  of  a  friend  of  ours  in  La  Grange,  and  mv 
joungestboy,  Gray,  who,  on  AYednesday  morning,  17th  De- 


370  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

cember,  were  directed  to  go  out  and  ascertain  at  Avhat  points 
on  the  nor  til  side  of  the  corporate  limits  of  the  town  the 
j)icket  sentinels  were  stationed  whose  business  it  was  to  halt 
all  persons  attempting  to  pass  out  of  the  lines.  They  re- 
ported that  the  pickets  were  stationed  on  the  line  about  a 
half-mile  aj)art,  and  just  where  parties  would  y)robably  pass 
who  should  attempt  to  go  outside  the  lines,  and,  yery  fortu- 
nately for  us,  there  was  a  deep  valley  of  forest  between  the 
two  points  guarded.  AYe  made  our  arrangements  then,  that 
at  a  late  hour  in  the  afternoon  we  should  pass  through  this 
Talley  afoot,  without  baggage,  while  our  friend.  Dr.  Pul- 
liam,  W'ho  had  a  pass  from  the  Provost-Marshal,  to  practice 
his  profession  outside  the  limits  of  the  town,  agreed  to  have 
our  horses  conveyed  through  the  region  where  the  army  was 
encamped,  and  along  the  high  road,  which  he  did  without 
risk,  and  without  suspicion,  Our  destination  for  that  night 
was  at  the  hospitable  home  of  a  wealthy  planter.  Captain  J. 
"W.  Jones,  a  warm  friend,  and  as  he  had  a  large  crop  of  cot- 
ton, the  Yankee  cotton  buyers,  who  were  camp  followers, 
always,  of  the  Federal  army,  had  made  a  purchase  of  him, 
and  a  neighbor  of  ours  was  employed  to  go  out  and  bring 
the  cotton  in  wdth  his  wagons.  So  Dr.  P.  joined  the  W'agon 
train  with  our  horses,  one  of  which  was  to  be  coupled  along- 
side of  the  team,  and  the  other  (my  saddle  horse)  was  to  be 
led  by  some  outrider,  and  we  were  to  meet  the  cavalcade 
after  our  tramp  through  the  intervening  valley.  Our  plan 
succeeded  admirably,  except  in  a  single  point — the  horse  to 
be  ridden  by  my  companion  utterly  refused  to  be  a  party  to 
the  arrangement,  and  had  to  be  sent  back  to  town.  This 
did  not  break  up  the  plan  at  all,  for  my  fellow-traveller 
mounted  the  wagon  aud  I  received  my  horse  as  prepared, 
and  so,  without  further  interruption,  we  reached  Captain 
Jones'  hospitable  mansion,  and  spent  the  night  safely  and 
comfortably.  We  were  still  fur  from  being  secure,  as  we 
were  distant  only  six  miles  from  headquarters,  and  we  felt 


Leaves  La  Grange.  372^ 

that  there  was  a  possibUity  of  our  being  pursued  and  arrested 
should  It  be  discovered  that  we  had  left.     Oiu-  good  friend 

ready  to  pursue  our  journey  south  on  the  next  morning, 
after  a  night  of  refreshing  rest  ^' 

.nJ'tnb" tf "'  "'■""  ""^  "°"'^^''  ^°*J^  °f  Confederate 
«^d  greenback  cuijency,  we  commenced  our  journey  on  the 

18th  December,  1862,  and  by  a  kind  Provid  nee  wL  ena! 
Hed  to  leave  behind  all  peril  of  pursuit,  and  we  pauTed 
nowhere  until  we  reached  Central  Mississippi,  anl  from 
that  time  until  the  'close  of  the  war  I  lost  sight  ;f  the  FeT 
erai  ai-my,  both  in  whole  and  in  part 


CHAPTER  XXXIY. 

Effect  of  the  Wae  "upon  the  Pkesbyteeies  of  the  South. — De 
Spring's  Kesolutioks. — Atlanta  Contention.  —  Oeganization  of 
THE  GeneeaIj  Assembly,  on  December  4,  1861. 

IT  becomes  necessaiy  now  that  ^Ye  shoukl  retrace  the  his- 
tory, and  take  up  some  of  the  "dropped  threads"  of  the 
narrative,  in  order  that  the  events  of  those  troublous  times 
may  move  on  as  nearly  2^(^i^'i  passu  as  may  be,  considering- 
the  varied  and  diversified  interests,  and  departments  which 
were  so  deeply  affected  by  the  terrible  convulsions  of  war. 
Among  those  matters  which  were  brought  into  collision  in 
this  disastrous  period  of  oui'  history,  none  were  more  seri- 
ously affected  and  threatened  than  those  of  the  churches,  and 
especially  the  Presbyterian  Church.     The  condition  of  the 
country,  both  North  and  South,  in  the  Spring  of  1861,  after 
the  beginning  of  hostile  preparations,  was  such  that  the 
Northern  people  were  perfectly  infuriated  toward  the  South, 
and  the  various  ecclesiastical  bodies  of  the  Southern  Pres- 
byterian Church  felt  little  inclination  to  send  commissioners 
to  represent  them  in  the  General  Assembly  in  ]May.     In- 
deed, few  went  to  the  Assembly  from  the  Soulli.     When 
those  who  did  attend  were  known  to   be  in  Philadelphia, 
irresponsible  ruffians  issued  anonymous  proposals  to  hang 
them  as  rebels  and  traitors  to  the  lamp-posts  on  the  streets. 
"When,  therefore,  the  famous   "Spring  Pesolutions"   were 
presented  in  the  Assembly,  and,  with  slight  modification, 
passed,   though  under  solemn  protest  by  Dr.  Hodge  and 
others,  the  die  was  cast  as  to  Southern  sentiment  among 
Presbyterians ;  and  it  was  but  a  question  of  time  as  to  a 

372 


The  Atl.aj^ta  Contention.  373 

definitive  dissolution  of  the  bond  of  ecclesiastical  union 
between  the  Southern  and  Northern  Presbyterians.  At 
separate  meetings  of  various  Presbyteries,  from  Virginia 
to  Texas,  resolutions  were  adopted  withdrawing  themselves 
from  the  Northern  Presbyterians,  and,  as  the  proceedings 
were  published  all  over  the  land,  a  proposition  was  made 
to  send  delegates  from  these  bodies  to  Atlanta,  to  meet  in 
convention,  and  discuss  the  situation  and  concert  measures 
for  united  action.  This  was  adopted  by  eleven  Presbyte- 
ries, and,  accordingly,  the  delegates  met  in  the  First  Pres- 
b^'terian  Church  of  Atlanta,  and  continued  in  session  during 
the  15th,  16tli,  and  17th  of  August,  1861.  After  much 
consideration,  touching  the  state  of  the  church,  the  follow- 
ing recommendations  were,  on  the  third  day,  unanimously 
r.dopted,  viz.: 

"I.  That  all  the  Presbyteries  which  have  passed  an  act 
dissolving  their  connection  with  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America, 
at  the  ensuing  Fall  sessions,  declare  their  adherence  and 
submission  to  the  Confession  of  Faith,  Form  of  Government, 
Book  of  Discipline,  and  Directory  for  Worship,  with  the 
single  change  of  the  phrase  from  that  of  'Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America'  to  that  of  'Presby- 
terian Church  in  the  Confederate  States  of  America ' ;  and 
that  such  Presbyteries  as  have  not  renounced  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  General  Assembly  aforesaid  by  a  formal  act, 
should  at  the  ensuing  Fall  sessions  take  such  action  as  may 
be  necessary  to  effect  a  union  in  a  General  Assembly  with 
their  sister  Presbyteries  in  the  South. 

"2.  That  these  Presb5i;eries  send  commissioners,  accord- 
ing to  the  former  rule  of  representation,  to  a  General  As- 
sembly, to  be  held  in  the  city  of  Augusta,  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  on  the  fourth  day  of  December  next ; 
and  that  the  Rev.  Dr.  B.  M.  Palmer,  as  principal,  and  the 
Bev.  Dr.  Wilson  (pastor  of  said  church),  be  requested  to 


374  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

preach  the  opening  sermon,  and  to  preside  until  the  Assem- 
bly be  organized,  and  a  moderator  and  clerk  be  chosen. 

"3.  That  the  Rev.  Drs.  Waddel  and  Gray,  of  the  Pres- 
byteiy  of  Memphis,  and  Dr.  Joseph  Jones,  of  Augusta,  Ga., 
ruling  elder,  be  a  Committee  on  Commissions,  to  examine 
the  credentials  of  all  who  may  present  themselves  at  that 
meeting;  and  that  these  brethren  be  requested  to  be  pre- 
sent, in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  in  the  city  of  Au- 
gusta, on  the  evening  previous  to  the  meeting  of  the  General 
Assembly. 

"  4.  That  the  Presbyteries  which  have  passed  an  act  re- 
nouncing the  jurisdiction  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Presl^yterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  do 
declare,  that  in  that  act  they  did  not  design  to  withdraw 
from  their  sister  Presbyteries  in  the  South,  nor  to  dissolve 
their  Synods. 

"That  all  the  Presbyteries  in  the  Confederate  States 
send  up  their  records  to  their  respective  Synods,  for  re- 
view, and  that  the  Synods  confirm  the  action  herein  pro- 
posed " 

The  Convention  (in  explanation  of  the  motives  for  organ- 
izing a  New  Assembly),  after  quoting  what  is  known  as  the 
"Spring  Eesolutions,"  adopted  the  following: 

"By  this  act  of  the  Assembly  (at  Philadelphia,  May,  1861,) 
a  large  proportion  of  the  churches  under  its  care  felt  them- 
selves aggrieved,  not  because  they  disputed  the  right  of  the 
Assembly  to  give  a  deliverance  upon  any  c|uestion  of  duty 
growing  out  of  their  several  relations,  civil,  social,  and  eccle- 
siastical, but  because,  during  a  state  of  war  between  two 
sections  of  the  Confederacy  formerly  known  as  the  United 
States  of  America,  one  of  which  had  found  it  necessar}'  to 
withdraw  from  the  other,  to  establish  an  independent  gov- 
ernment of  its  own,  and  to  resort  to  arms  in  maintenance 
(;f  its  rights,  and  in  defence  against  threatened  invasion  of 
barbaric   character,  the  Assembly   assumed    the    right    of 


The  Spring  Eesolutions.  375 

determining  the  political  status  of  eveiy  member  of  every 
cliurcli  under  its  care,  a  right  inherent  in  the  State,  and 
not  in  the  church;  and  in  the  assumption  of  this  right, 
enjoined  upon  said  members  the  perforpjance  of  acts  which, 
as  to  those  residing  within  the  Confederate  States,  were 
absolutely  treasonable,  in  view  of  the  political  relations 
established  for  them  by  those  States./ 

I  am  not  absolutely  certain  that  the  Presbj'tery  of  Mem- 
2)his,  to  which  I  belonged,  was  the  first  to  renounce  the  juris- 
diction of  this  Assembly,  which  adopted  tho  Spring  Resolu- 
tions. If  not  the  first,  at  any  rate,  that  Presbytery  was 
among  the  first  to  decide  upon  withdrawal.  It  cannot  be 
improper  to  insert  a  copy  of  the  famous  document  known  as 
the  "Spring  Resolutions,"  which  was  productiYe,  in  its  influ- 
ence upon  the  Southern  Presbyteries,  of  their  withdrawal 
from  the  Presbyterian  General  Assembly  of  the  United 
States  of  America.  Few  of  the  younger  generation  of  the 
Southern  Presbyterians  know  exactly  its  nature  and  spirit, 
and  it  is  well  to  preserve  a  copy  of  it  for  reference.  It  is  as. 
follows : 

"  Ilesolved,  That  this  General  Assembly,  in  the  spirit  of 
Christian  patriotism  which  the  Scriptures  enjoin,  and  which 
has  always  characterized  this  church,  do  hereby  acknow- 
ledge and  declare  our  obligation  to  promote  and  perpetuate, 
so  far  as  in  us  lies,  the  integrity  of  these  United  States,  and 
to  strengthen,  uphold  and  encourage  the  Federal  govern- 
ment in  the  exercise  of  all  its  functions  under  our  noble 
constitution;  and  to  this  constitution,  in  all  its  provisions, 
requirements  and  principles,  we  profess  our  unabated  loy- 
altv.  And  to  avoid  all  misconception,  the  Assembly  declares 
that,  by  the  term  '  Federal  Government,'  as  here  used,  is 
not  meant  any  particular  administration,  or  the  peculiar 
opinions  of  any  particular  party,  but  that  central  adminis- 
tration which,  being  at  any  time  appointed,  and  inaugurated 
according  to  the  forms  prescribed  in  the  constitution  of  the 


376  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D,,  LL.  D. 

United  States,  is  the  visible  representative  of  our  national 
•existence." 

It  must  be  stated  that  this  action  of  the  General  Assembly 
'Nvas  taken  after  nearly  all  the  Confederate  States  had  seceded, 
and  so  the  entire  body  of  the  church  witbin  the  bounds  of 
those  States  was  in  effect  driven  out  of  the  connection  and 
fellowship  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  I  proceed  to  say, 
using  the  language  of  Dr.  J.  R.  Wilson,  in  his  memorial 
address,  dehvered  by  him  on  the  occasion  of  the  Quarter- 
Centennial  Anniversary  of  the  Organization  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States. 
Speaking  of  the  convention  just  referred  to.  Dr.  Wilson 
says : 

"  It  was  in  response  to  a  request  on  the  part  of  this  excep- 
tional body  of  trusted  brethren,  that  all  the  Presbyteries 
addressed — not  one  excepted — were  here  not  many  months 
afterward,  regularly  represented  in  accordance  with  the  an- 
cient forms,  and  in  every  instance  by  a  delegation  of  minis- 
ters, in  whose  number  there  was  not  a  single  blank,  as  also, 
save  in  the  case  of  a  few  of  the  far-distant  constituencies,  by  a 
full  commission  of  ruling  elders,  making  altogether  an  author- 
ized membership  of  ninet^^-three,  and  possessed,  as  a  whole, 
it  soon  became  apparent,  of  an  unusually  high  average  of 
Christian  character  and  mental  ability,  whilst  some  of  them, 
conspicuous  above  the  many,  would  have  adorned  the  church 
in  any  age  or  countiy.  On  a  mild  Tuesday  morning,  although 
it  was  now  the  beginning  of  winter,  this  novel  assemblage 
was,  at  eleven  in  the  morning,  "  called  to  order "  by  one  of 
the  most  dignified  of  its  members,  but  of  whom,  being  now 
present,  I  may  not,  without  indelicacy,  say  anything  further 
• — Rev.  Dr.  John  N.  Waddel — and  who,  you  are  glad  to 
know,  is  expected  to  take  a  leading  part  in  these  memorial 
services.  He,  with  two  others — Eev.  Dr.  John  H.  Gray  and 
Dr.  Joseph  Jones — had,  with  well-directed  judgment,  been 
named  by  many  of  the  Presbyteries,  as  likewise  by  the  At- 


Addkess  of  Eev.  Joseph  R.  Wilson,  D.  D.  377 

lanta  conyention,  to  constitute  the  Committee  on  Commis- 
sions; and,  as  chairman  of  this  committee,  it  became  his 
pre-arranged  duty  to  utter  the  inceptive  words  of  organiza- 
tion. And,  upon  his  motion,  the  Rev.  Francis  McFarland, 
T>.  D.,  one  of  the  most  venerable  commissioners  present, 
and  who,  five  3'ears  before,  had  been  the  singularly  able 
Moderator  of  the  old  Assembly,  was  apjDointed  temporarily 
to  preside." 

It  will  be  remembered  that,  in  the  Atlanta  convention,  it 
was  recommended  unanimously,  that  "  the  Rev.  Dr.  B.  M. 
Palmer,  as  principal,  or,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wilson  (pastor  of  the 
chui'ch),  be  requested  to  preach  the  opening  sermon,  and  to 
preside,  until  the  Assembly  be  organized  and  a  moderator 
and  clerk  be  chosen." 

I  resume  Dr.  Wilson's  words  here : 

"The  opening  sermon  on  that  solemn  occasion  was 
preached  from  the  admirably-chosen  words  of  inspiration 
found  in  the  first  chapter  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Ephesians : 
*'And  gave  him  to  be  head  over  all  things  to  the  church, 
w^hich  is  his  body,  the  fulness  that  filleth  all  in  all." 

"  I  go  on,  therefore,  to  say  that  on  the  day  following  that 
on  which  Dr.  Palmer  delivered  his  remarkable  sermon,  he 
was,  by  acclamation,  elected  to  the  moderator's  chair,  and 
two  days  subsequently  Dr.  Waddel  and  your  present  speaker 
were  respectively  chosen  to  fill  the  ofiices  of  stated  clerk  and 
of  permanent  clerk. 

"  Thus,  with  the  addition  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  D.  McNeill  Tur- 
ner as  temporary  clerk,  the  first  Assembly  was  duly  and 
fully  organized." 

This  brings  into  view  the  method  pursued  and  adopted 
by  the  Southern  Presbyteries  in  the  organization  of  what 
was  then  knov^n  as  the  "General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church  in  the  Confederate  States  of  America,"  but, 
after  the  close  of  the  v.ar,  when  the  "Confederate  States" 
as  a  government  became  a  thing  of  the  past,  the  title  of  the 


378  John  N.  Waddill,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

Assembly  Avas  so  modified  as  to  read  thus:  "The  General 
Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States," 
leaving  off  the  two  words,  "of  America."  Still  the  church 
was  known  by  the  former  name  all  through  the  war,  and 
was  not  changed  to  the  present  title  until  the  meeting  of 
the  Assembly  in  Macon,  Ga.,  in  December,  18G5. 

The  proceedings  of  the  first  General  Assembly,  in  Augusta, 
Ga.,  were  characterized  by  great  dignity  and  solemn  earn- 
estness of  pui'jDOse,  accompanied  by  much  fervent  prayer  for 
divine  guidance.  Conspicuous  among  the  commissioners 
njid/acile  princeijs,  as  a  leader  in  every  important  measure, 
was  James  H.  Thornwell.  He  was  a  member  of  many  im- 
portant committees,  and  his  influence  was  weighty  and 
effective  in  the  deliberations  of  the  body.  The  Assembly, 
at  an  early  period  in  its  sessions,  resolved,  on  motion  of  Dr. 
Thornwell,  to  appoint  "a  committee  consisting  of  one  min- 
ister and  one  ruling  elder  from  each  of  the  Synods  belonging 
to  this  Assembly  to  prepare  an  address  to  all  the  churches 
of  Jesus  Christ  throughout  the  earth,  setting  forth  the  causes 
of  our  separation  from  the  churches  of  the  United  States, 
our  attitude  in  relation  to  slavery,  and  a  general  view  of  the 
policy  which,  as  a  church,  we  propose  to  pursue."  Of  this 
committee  Dr.  Thornwell  was  appointed  chairman,  and  pre- 
pared and  read  an  elaborate  address,  which  was  received 
and  adopted.  Three  thousand  copies  of  this  address  were 
ordered  to  be  j)rinted  for  the  use  of  the  Assembly,  and  that 
the  original  address  be  filed  in  the  archives  of  the  Assem- 
bly, and  that  it  be  signed  by  the  moderator  and  members  of 
the  Assembly,"  all  of  which  was  done.  This  address  is 
found  in  the  Appendix  to  the  Minutes  of  that  Assembly, 
occuppng  ten  closely  printed  images,  beginning  on  page  51. 

The  bodies  having  charge  of  Missions,  Home  and  Foreign, 
Education,  Publication,  etc.,  were  styled  "Executive  Com- 
mittees," not  "Boards,"  as  is  the  plan  pursued  by  the 
Northern  Assembly. 


First  General  Assembly  Organized.  379 

Dr.  Palmer's  opening  sermon  was  jDublishecl  also  by  order 
of  the  Assembly,  in  the  Appendix  to  the  Minutes,  and  wiE 
be  found  on  page  61. 

Dr.  J.  Leighton  Wilson  was  elected  Secretary  of  Foreign 
^Missions;  Dr.  John  Ley  burn,  of  Domestic  Missions;  Dr. 
John  H.  Gray,  of  ''Education,"  and  Dr.  William  Brown,  of 
Publication. 

Columbia,  South  Carolina,  was  chosen  as  the  location  for 
the  Executive  Committee  of  Foreign  Missions;  New  Orleans 
for  Domestic  Missions,  Richmond,  Va.,  for  PubHcation,  and 
Memphis  for  Education. 

These  Executive  Committees  continued  to  act  as  four  sep- 
arate and  distinct  bodies,  with  each  its  own  secretary  and 
treasurer,  at  the  several  locations  as  above  stated,  until  the 
session  of  the  Assembly  in  May,  1863,  at  which  time  it  was 
decided  to  combine  theExecutive  Committees  of  Education 
and  Publication  together,  with  the  same  secretary,  treasui'er 
and  members,  and  location,  and  to  make  the  same  arrange- 
ment in  regard  to  the  Executive  Committees  of  Foreign  and- 
Domestic  Missions.  Dr.  Gray  having  resigned  the  secre- 
taryship of  Education,  and  the  city  of  Memphis  being  within 
the  enemy's  lines,  and  the  same  thing  being  true  of  Dr.  Ley- 
burn,  that  his  location  was  in  the  hands  of  the  Federal 
army,  and  the  Committee  of  Domestic  Missions  in  danger 
from  that  cause,  on  the  occasion  of  the  meeting  of  the  As- 
sembl}^  in  Columbia,  it  was  determined  that  Education  and 
Publication  should  be  united  at  Richmond,  Va.,  and  as  Dr. 
"William  Brown  had  resigned  the  ofQce  of  secretary  of  Pub- 
lication, Dr.  John  Leybui'n  was  elected  his  successor.  The 
Committee  of  Domestic  Missions  was  transferred  to  Colum- 
bia, South  Carolina,  and  combined  with  that  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions. Both  were  put  under  the  care  of  the  original  Execu- 
tive Committee,  with  Dr.  J.  Leighton  Wilson  as  secretary. 
This  was  designed,  however,  as  a  temporary  arrangement, 
to  which  the  Assembly  was  forced  by  the  pressure  of  the 


380  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

times.  These  items  of  information  are  all  accessible  to  the 
curious,  as  they  can  be  found  in  the  Minutes  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  1861,  and  of  1863.  To  these  Minutes  I  refer 
all  inquirers,  and  only  add  to  these  items  and  facts  some 
things  of  less  public  interest,  but  which  will  be  found  to  have 
close  connection  with  this  history. 


CHAPTER  XXXY. 

Return  to  La  Geange — Continttation  of  the  Wab  Record,    and. 
Peesoxal  Incidents. 

AT  the  close  of  this  first  Assembly,  I  found  myself  within 
fifty  miles  of  my  native  soil,  in  Abbeville  District,  South 
Carolina,  and  as  I  had  met  in  Augusta  several  of  my  old  friends, 
who  w^ere  there  attending  as  spectators,  I  received  pressing 
invitations  to  go  up  and  pay  them  a  visit  before  going  west. 
I  accepted  their  call,  and  spent  a  week,  more  or  less,  in  that 
familiar  old  region  of  country.  I  preached  during  the  time 
in  my  father's  old  church,  visited  my  mother's  grave,  where 
her  dust  had  been  resting  for  more  than  thirty  years,  saw 
many  old  friends,  who  were  j'oung  when  we  parted,  a  quar- 
ter century  before,  and  some  who  were  in  childhood  then 
who  had  come  to  maturer  years,  and  outgrown  my  know- 
ledge altogether;  and  again  I  set  my  face  westward. 

At  the  time  to  which  I  refer  La  Grange  was  free  from 
hostile  occupancy,  and  I  returned,  and  began  the  year  1862 
wdth  my  family  and  friends,  in  peace  and  tranquillity,  "with 
none  to  molest  or  to  make  us  afraid."  But  these  quiet  times 
w^ere  of  short  duration.  On  the  17th  of  February,  of  that 
year.  Fort  Donaldson  fell,  and  very  soon  after  that  Federal 
gunboats  ascended  the  Tennessee  river,  and  reached  Flor- 
ence, Alabama.  We  have  already  recorded  the  fact  that  we 
had  closed  the  supplementary  exercises  of  the  La  Grange  Col- 
lege just  at  that  time,  after  the  regular  fourth  session  had 
been  interrupted  prematurely,  by  anticipation,  on  the  25th 
April,  1861.  We  also,  as  already  stated,  held  an  examina- 
tion of  the  only  two  young  men  who  had  belonged  to  our 
Junior  Class  of  1860-'61,  and  who  had  returned  after  the 

381 


'382  John  N.  AYaddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

battle  of  3Ianassas  and  had  been  admitted  to  the  Senior  Class. 
"We  admitted  them  to  graduation  in  February,  and  closed 
the  college  for  the  time.  This  "^as  followed  by  the  enlist- 
ment of  both  these  young  men  in  the  army.  One  of  them 
■^as  James  T>.  West,  who  had  married  my  oldest  daughter 
just  before  the  battle  of  Manassas,  and,  in  half  an  hour  after 
the  marriage  ceremon}^  performed  by  myself,  on  Sabbath 
morning,  had  taken  the  train  on  the  M.  &  C.  E.  R.,  and  left 
his  bride  with  me,  and  joined  the  Southern  army  in  Vir- 
ginia. To  make  the  story  short,  let  me  say,  that  he  arrived 
in  time  to  take  his  place  in  the  ranks  on  the  field  of  battle, 
and  came  out  unscathed,  only  to  fall  into  camp-fever,  which 
came  near  to  a  fatal  termination.  On  the  following  week, 
or  perhaps  ten  days  after  the  battle,  I  received  a  dispatch 
from  a  friend  of  his  from  Lynchburg,  Ya.,  stating  that  he 
was  dangerously  ill  at  the  house  of  a  friend.  As  soon  as 
possible  I  left  home,  wdth  his  newly  married  wife,  and  reached 
Lynchburg  on  Sabbath  morning,  just  tvso  weeks  from  the 
day  of  their  marriage,  and  found  him  prostrate  and  uncon- 
scious, under  the  hospitable  roof  of  Samuel  McCorkle,  Esq., 
a  noble  patriot  and  elder  of  our  church,  who  was  afterwards 
a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  1861.  AYe  remained  wdth  my 
soldier  son-in-law  three  weeks,  and,  by  the  blessing  of  a  kind 
Pro\'idence,  he  became  convalescent,  and  we  returned  to  La 
Grange.  As  he  was  regularly  discharged  on  account  of 
his  sickness,  he  emploj^ed  the  time  in  finishing  his  scholastic 
course  of  study  in  the  college  at  La  Grange,  preparatory  to 
the  gospel  ministry.  The  other  young  man  who  was  gradu- 
ated at  the  same  time  with  j^oung  AYest,  was  AYilliam  F. 
Markham,  a  first-class  student,  of  gi'eat  promise,  w^ho  joined 
the  army  soon  afterwards,  and  met  his  death  in  one  of  the  bat- 
tles that  occurred  in  the  neighborhood  of  Atlanta,  J.  D.  AYest 
also  re-entered  the  army  in  Mississippi,  and  was  in  the  Divis- 
ion of  General  J.  E.  Johnson  when  near  Marietta,  and  was 
captured,  with  some  others,  in  some  of  the  many  sku-mishes 


Among  Army  Movements.  383 

ihereabouts,  carried  to  Johnsou's  Island,  and  held  as  a  pris- 
oner until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  had  pursued  his  studies 
in  camp,  under  the  direction  of  the  Presbytery  of  Cherokee, 
and  had  been  licensed,  just  before  his  capture,  having  ob- 
tained leave  of  absence  just  long  eiijugh  to  pass  his  exami- 
nation by  the  Presbytery,  at  Marietta,  Ga. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  closing  of  our  school,  in  February, 
1862,  not  only  did  West  and  Markham  enter  the  army  as 
soldiers,  but  Professor  Scott,  one  of  the  teachers,  and  my 
son,  George,  then  seventeen,  with  Robert  Loughridge,  son 
of  the  missionary  to  the  Creek  Indians,  also  enhsted  in  the 
army,  and  I  accompanied  them  to  Columbus,  Ky.,  where 
General  Polk  was  encamped  with  a  division  of  the  Southern 
army,  and  they  were  enrolled  as  volunteers  for  the  war.  I 
soon  ascertained  that  this  encampment  was  abjut  to  be 
broken  up,  and  the  place  was  to  be  evacuated  at  once,  hav- 
ing been  ordered  to  Jackson,  Tenn.  This  arrangement 
rendered  it  necessary  for  me  to  go  along  with  the  army, 
and  return  to  La  Grange  by  rail,  instead  of  by  the  Missis- 
sippi river.  All  this  movement  of  Polk's  division  was  only 
a  j^art  of  the  preparation  then  going  on,  in  various  parts  of 
the  arjny,  to  concentrate  a  large  force  at  Corinth  (where 
the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad  crossed  the  Memphis  and 
Charleston  Railroad),  preliminary  to  the  battle  fought  at 
Shiloh,  on  the  Gth  and  7th  of  April,  between  General  Albert 
Sidney  Johnson,  of  the  Southern  forces,  and  General  Grant, 
ol  the  Northern  army. 

I  rode  on  a  freight-car  loaded  with  tents,  etc.,  and  accom- 
panied by  many  soldiers,  and  with  a  long  train  of  freight- 
cars  laden  with  the  munitions  of  war,  all  the  way  to  Jackson, 
the  weatiier  baing  extremely  cold,  as  it  was  late  in  March. 
After  the  battle  of  the  7th,  we  recaived  a  telegram  at  La 
Grange  from  W.  C.  Gray,  to  the  effect  that  he  and  my  boy, 
George,  had  escaped  safely,  but  that  their  companion, 
Loughridge,  was  badly  wounded.     Yv'e  had  just  returned 


384  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

from  the  Spring  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Memphis, 
when  we  met  the  sad  tidings  of  that  disastrous  battle.  The 
death  of  General  Johnson,  on  the  field,  shed  intense  gloom 
over  the  land,  and  then  the  capture  of  General  Prentiss,  of 
the  Federal  arm}',  with  over  three  thousand  prisoners,  and 
immense  quantities  of  stores  gathered  up,  all  created  great 
excitement  among  the  people.  Accordingly,  on  Tuesday 
afternoon,  in  company  with  crowds  of  passengers,  going  to 
Corinth  to  look  after  their  friends  in  the  army.  Dr.  Grscy 
and  I,  having  packed  up  a  goodly  store  of  provisions,  took 
j)assage  on  the  train  for  Corinth.  We  reached  that  point 
about  midnight,  in  the  midst  of  a  terrific  storm  of  thunder, 
lightning,  wind,  and  rain.  I  have  often  thought,  on  re- 
curring to  the  scenes  of  that  night,  that  they  were  certainly 
invested  with  as  many  of  the  elements  of  gloom  and  horror 
as  I  had  ever  witnessed.  We  made  our  way  through  mud 
and  mire  to  the  hotel,  a  large  wooden  building  near  the 
depot,  and  on  the  platform  and  veranda  we  found  multi- 
tudes of  sick,  wearj^  and  wounded  soldiers,  w^ho 

**  Had  Slink  on  the  ground  overpowered, 
The  weary  to  rest,  and  the  wounded  to  die." 

All  was  dark,  and  the  storm  still  raged.  Ever  and  anon, 
the  roar  and  crash  of  the  loud  thunder,  and  the  vivid  light- 
ning-flash added  increasing  horror  to  the  scene.  Kot  a 
light  w-as  visible,  save  one  dim  ra}',  streaming  with  difiiculty 
through  the  almost  palpable  darkness,  from  a  tallow  candle 
in  a  room  on  one  side  of  the  house.  Thither  we  directed 
our  steps,  and  inquired  of  a  sleepy,  weary  woman,  who  sat 
alone  ainid  a  surrounding  mass  of  the  sick,  dying,  or  dead, 
if  she  knew  anything  of  the  Thirteenth  Tennessee  Regi- 
ment? Our  bo3''s  belonged  to  that  regiment.  She  knew 
nothing  of  them.  Turning  back  w^e  made  our  way  to  a 
large  room,  which  might  have  been  the  reception-room,  cr 
bar  of  the  hotel.     And  here  we  were  met  with  the  same 


After  the  Battle  of  Shiloh.  385 

siglits,  of  the  dirty,  muddy  floor,  covered  over  -uitli  sleepers ;. 
so  we  concluded  to  go  up  stairs  (as  we  gathered  no  tidings 
of  our  boys),  and  rest  contented,  if  possible,  till  the  dawn- 
ing of  the  day,  when  we  might  renew  our  search  under 
more  favorable  auspices.  "We  sat  on  the  steps,  having  no 
spot  large  enough  to  admit  of  lying  down  at  full  length, 
half -reclining  and  half-sitting ;  we  remained  in  this  condi- 
tion, until  the  first  light  of  day  broke  in  on  us.  In  this 
condition  we  were  unable  to  sleep;  for,  ever  and  anon, 
groans  and  curses  were  heard  from  many  a  poor  wounded 
soldier,  and  persons  were  passing  up  and  down  the  stair- 
way, stepping  on  and  over  us,  and  the  droppings  of  their- 
their  shoes  and  boots  falling  upon  us.  As  soon  as  we  could 
see  to  walk  we  abandoned  our  filthy  quarters,  and  ascertain- 
ing that  the  camp  of  the  Thirteenth  Tennessee  Regiment 
lay  thiee  miles  north  of  Corinth,  and  learning  nothing  of  our 
boys  at  the  hotel,  we  walked  out  to  the  camp.  It  was  a 
dark  and  gloomy  morning,  and  our  route  lay  up  the  track  of 
the  railroad,  and  as  the  ground  was  muddy  and  slippery, 
and  as  I  carried  a  large  pair  of  saddle-bags  filled  with  pro- 
visions, it  may  be  readily  believed  that,  by  the  time  we 
reached  the  camp,  I  was  somewhat  exhausted.  AVe  found 
our  boys  there  resting,  after  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  or,  as  it 
was  also  named  "Pittsburg  Landing,"  and  spent  the  day  in 
camp.  Dr.  Gray  remained  there  until  young  Loughridge 
(who  had  been  left  behind  after  the  battle  among  the 
wounded)  was  brought  back,  more  dead  than  ahve.  The 
other  boys  of  our  set  were  left  in  camp  as  they  were  unhurt. 
But  he  was  conveyed  carefully  back  to  La  Grange,  and  ten- 
derly nursed  in  the  home  of  Dr.  Gray,  until,  contrar}-  to  all 
expectation,  through  assiduous  care  and  the  best  medical 
skill  and  attention  under  God"s  blessing,  he  was,  after  long 
convalescence,  so  far  restored  as  to  return  to  service,  but 
never  sufficiently  so  to  enter  the  ranks.  He  became  usefully 
25 


386  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

employed  in  tlie  hospitals  and  in  clerical  work,  to  the  close 
of  the  war. 

On  the  way  back  to  La  Grange,  Rev.  E.  R.  Evans  and  I 
took  a  flat  car,  as  there  was  no  better  mode  of  travel 
offered,  all  the  cars  belonging  to  a  long  train  being  filled 
with  the  sick,  wounded,  and  dying  soldiers,  and  after  reach- 
ing nearly  the  end  of  the  route  to  La  Grange  the  train  was 
derailed,  and  several  of  the  cars  containing  the  wounded 
were  thrown  off  the  track  and  some  of  the  soldiers  dread- 
fully crashed.  We  were  thrown  off  our  flat,  and  deposited 
in  safety  ten  or  twenty  feet  from  the  track  upon  a  sand 
bank;  making  a  marvelous  escape  by  the  kindness  of  our 
Heavenly  Father;  and  with  no  further  accident  we  reached 
our  homes.  The  long  train,  after  being  replaced  on  the 
track,  proceeded  to  transport  its  freight  of  the  woiuided 
and  helpless  soldiers  to  the  hospitals  along  the  route, 
where  they  were  to  be  cared  for. 

The  Confederate  army  lay  at  Corinth  after  the  battle  of 
Shiloh,  recruiting  and  awaiting  the  further  movements  and 
orders  from  headquarters,  for  nearly  two  months.  They 
evacuated  the  place  on  the  30  th  of  May,  as  a  Federal  force 
of  100,000  men,  under  the  command  of  General  Halleck,  was 
led  against  them.  Fort  Pillow  w^as  abandoned  June  4th, 
and  Memphis  was  captured  on  the  6th,  after  our  little  flotilla 
was  destroyed.  And  as  New  Orleans  had  been  captured  on 
the  25th  of  April,  we,  in  our  La  Grange  homes,  were  threat- 
ened north,  east,  south  and  west,  by  hostile  forces. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Southern  Presbyterian  Church  was  to  meet,  according  to 
adjournment,  in  Memphis ;  but  the  fact  that  this  was  ren- 
dered impossible  in  consequence  of  the  invasion  of  the  entire 
region  around  the  city,  led  to  the  necessity  of  our  meeting 
in  Montgomery,  Ala.,  as  that  city  was,  at  that  time,  undis- 
turbed by  war,  and  had  been  the  i^lace  voted  for  as  desir- 
able, next  to  Memphis.     Inasmuch,  therefore,  as  I  had  been 


Q\RE  FOR  Sick  .\nd  Wounded  387 

made,  at  tlie  Augusta  Assembly,  Stated  Clerk,  I  made  all 
the  needed  iDreiDarations  to  leave  home,  and  to  be  present  at 
that  meeting.  I  left  home  in  ample  time  to  have  reached 
there,  and  I  had  gone  so  far  as  to  Oxford,  Miss.,  my  old 
home,  when,  upon  deliberation,  and  seeking  counsel  above, 
I  decided  to  return,  as  I  had  every  reason  to  apprehend  that, 
by  pursuing  my  journey,  I  should  be  entkely  cut  off  from 
home  by  the  Federal  troops  before  the  time  of  my  return, 
and  so  be  unable  to  join  my  family.  In  this  way  I  failed  to 
be  present  at  the  Montgomery  meeting  of  the  General 
Assembly. 

I  have  already  referred  to  the  fact  that  I  spent  the  sum- 
mer of  1862,  and  until  December  of  that  year,  in  La  Grange, 
during  which  period  there  were  occasional  raids  upon  us  by 
the  Federals.  But  about  the  latter  part  of  April,  previous 
to  the  evacuation  of  Corinth  by  our  troops,  quite  a  number 
of  sick  soldiers  were  sent  up  from  camp  to  the  hospital  at  La 
Grange,  one  of  whom  was  my  son  George,  and  w^th  him  a 
j-oung  man  from  Mississippi,  by  name  Walker,  both  of 
whom  I  took  into  my  house  to  be  niu'sed  and  attended.  As 
there  were  a  good  many  of  our  soldiers  in  hospital  there,  I 
prevailed  upon  those  who  had  control  of  the  transportation 
on  the  raih-oad  to  send  up  a  sufficient  number  of  box  cars 
to  La  Grange  to  convey  them  down  into  Mississippi,  for  the 
reason  that  there  was  no  doubt  of  the  speedy  advance  of  the 
enemy  to  the  place,  and  the  result  would  bo  the  capture  of 
all  these  sick  soldiers  as  prisoners.  I  then  had  my  two  sick 
men  placed  in  comfortable  cots  on  board  of  a  close  car,  and 
accompanying  them  myself  as  far  down  into  Mississippi  as 
Oxford,  left  them  in  the  hands  and  care  of  friends  until  they 
recovered  sufficiently  to  rejoin  the  army  at  Tupelo,  on  the 
M.  &  O.  R.  R.  I  returned  in  time  to  witness  the  entry  of  a 
large  body  of  hostile  troops  into  La  Grange,  on  the  13th  of 
June.  This  body  of  the  enemy  remained  in  the  possession 
of  the  place  until  somewhere  about  the  middle  of  July,  v/hen. 


388  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

for  some  cause  or  other,  I  know  not  why,  they  evacuated  the 
place.  Just  before  they  left,  as  I  had  every  reason  to  beheve 
they  were  there  for  23ermanent  occupation,  suspecting  that 
they  would  begin  very  soon  depredations,  and  persecutions 
of  all  who  were  not  lojal,  I  left,  without  their  knowledge, 
and  visited  the  army  at  Tupelo,  and  spent  the  Sabbath 
preaching  to  the  troops.  After  a  day  or  two  spent  there,  I 
learned  that  the  enemy  had  left  La  Grange,  and  I  secured  a 
safe  return  to  my  home,  and  there  remained,  with  various 
interruptions  from  the  Federal  raids,  until  some  time  in  No- 
vember, when  a  larger  body  of  Grant's  army  took  possession 
of  the  town  and  country,  as  already  stated,  and,  with  one  gar- 
rison after  another,  held  possession  of  it  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  I  have  now  brought  my  history  of  these  eventful 
times  of  the  country  and  of  the  church,  evenly  up  in  ]3arallel 
columns,  to  the  time  when,  as  already  related,  I  effected  my 
final  escape  from  the  hostile  lines. 


CHAPTER    XXXYL 

Eesumptiox  of  the  Naekatite  of  the  Escape,  and  j\Iode  of  Life 
IN  Mississippi. —FiEST  Occupation,  and  Service  until  the 
Speing  of  1873. 

¥E— that  is  Mr.  J.  O.  Hardeman,  the  son-in-law  of  Dr. 
Gray,  and  I — found  ourselves,  on  the  morning  of  the 
second  da}^  after  our  escape  through  the  Federal  lines, 
mounted,  and  leaving  the  j^remises  of  our  kind  and  hospita- 
ble friend,  Captain  Jones.  And  although  ^\e  were,  in  one 
sense,  safe,  yet  we  were  by  no  means  without  some  appre- 
hension in  regard  to  our  success  in  prosecuting  our  onward 
journey  south.  Marauding  and  irresponsible  parties  of 
these  reckless  soldiers  were  known  to  be  rovingr  throujrh 
the  surrounding  country,  in  search  of  boot}',  or  mischief, 
ai:d  it  was  with  some  misgivings  that  Ave  commenced  our 
ride  on  that  morning.  AVe  avoided  all  public  roads  at  the 
outset,  and  after  winding  about  through  ^^aths  and  unfre- 
quented and  unsettled  parts  of  the  country  along  the  border- 
land of  Tennessee  and  Mississippi,  we  found  oui-selves,  about 
noon  of  that  day,  south  of  the  littlo  hamlet  of  Saulsbury, 
only  nine  miles  from  La  Grange !  Not  long  after  we  reached 
a  j^ublic  road  leading  south.  As  we  began  to  breathe  some- 
what more  freely,  we  espied  a  Federal  soldier,  as  we  sup- 
posed him  to  be  as  he  approached,  just  before  us,  coming 
on  horseback  in  our  front,  and  meeting  us.  "We  now  felt 
that  w^e  were  probably  at  bay,  and  that  we  should  be 
arrested.  But,  unaccountably,  he  passed  us  without  inter- 
ruption, and  we  w^ent  on  our  way  without  any  farther  inci- 
dent, and  with  our  minds  relieved  and  our  hearts  lightened. 
We  had  decided  before  we  left  La  Grange  to  divest  our- 

389 


390  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

selves  of  eveiy  external  khid  of  baggage,  lest  it  might 
awaken  suspicion  that  we  were  refugees,  should  we  fall  into 
company  with  any  person  or  persons  unknown  to  us.  Hence 
we  had  nothing  like  saddle-wallets,  or  portmanteaus,  about 
us,  but  would  have  readily  passed  for  persons  near  home,  or 
wdthin  their  own  region  of  country  visiting.  The  conse- 
quence was  that  we  were  clothed  with  just  as  many  pairs  of 
underwear  and  upper  garments  as  we  could  draw  over  our 
persons ;  and  in  this  way,  while  we  added  to  the  mass  and 
hulk  of  our  persons,  it  became  somewhat  inconvenient  and 
uncomfortable  as  a  style  of  di'ess.  Still,  we  bore  it  in  the 
prospect  of  making  our  successful  journey  out  of  a  place 
rendered  hateful  by  the  sight  of  the  "Boys  in  blue,"  and 
in  hope  of  getting  to  the  free  land  of  Dixie ! 

We  arrived  in  safety  about  dark  at  the  residence  of  an  old 
friend  of  mine,  a  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Black  well,  a 
planter,  whose  hospitality  I  had  enjoyed  on  former  occasions, 
and  where  I  was  sure  of  a  cordial  welcome.  But  on  first 
arriving  we  learned  to  our  dismay  that  the  husband  and 
father  of  this  worthy  famih'  had  been  arrested  by  a  ro\dng 
band  of  Southern  Yankees,  as  they  were  styled,  and  carried 
as  a  prisoner  to  the  camp  of  the  Federal  army  in  Tennessee, 
and  for  no  other  reason  than  that  he  was  a  secessionist  in 
principle,  though  a  non-combatant  by  reason  of  being  over 
age.  My  recollection  now  is  that,  as  I  afterwards  learned  from 
others  who  knew  the  facts,  he  refused  to  take  the  oath  of 
allegiance,  and  was  kept  a  prisoner  until  he  died  of  exposure 
and  severe  privation  of  all  comfort.  The  lady  of  the  house, 
not  recognizing  us  at  first,  and  being  apprehensive  of  all 
visitors,  in  consequence  of  the  state  of  the  country,  and  by 
reason  of  her  recent  experience,  decHned  to  entertain  us. 
But  as  soon  as  I  made  myself  known  to  her  she  was  glad  to 
receive  and  take  care  of  us,  and  felt  herself  thankful  for  our 
visit. 

"When  we  heard  from  her  the  story  of  her  husband's  cap- 


The  Van  Dorn  Expedition.  391 

ture,  and  that  this  roving  band  of  Southern  robbers  were  in 
that  part  of  the  country,  committing  the  same  kind  of  out- 
rages at  other  points,  we  were  again  thrown  into  fresh  ajD- 
l^rehension  lest  we  might  si  ill  be  overtaken  and  an-ested. 
We  rested  quietly  through  the  night,  and  at  an  early  hour 
after  breakfast,  on  the  next  morning,  we  mounted  and  re- 
fiumed  our  onward  journey.  As  we  proceeded,  however,  w& 
were  met  by  continual  rumors  of  Yankees  being  ahead  of  us, 
and  that  they  had  possession  of  Pontotoc,  a  town  directly  on 
our  route,  and  through  which  we  were  expecting  to  pass. 
Nor  did  we  lose  our  apprehensions  until  we  were  met  by  the 
men  of  Van  Dorn's  command,  on  their  way  to  Holly  Springs, 
to  cut  off  the  supplies  of  Gen.  Grant's  arm}^  which  then  had 
possession  of  Oxford,  Mississippi.  Then  we  dismissed  all 
our  fears  and  felt  secure,  for  the  time,  of  reaching  our 
journey's  end  in  perfect  safety.  A  description  of  this  expe- 
dition of  Van  Dorn  and  his  brigade  will  repay  perusal,  as  it, 
certainly  was  among  the  most  brilliant  exploits  achieved 
during  the  war. 

It  Avas  at  the  time  when  Grant  was  jDrojecting  an  inva- 
sion of  Mississippi,  through  the  interior  of  the  State,  so  as  to 
capture  Vicksburg  on  the  land  east  of  the  Mississippi  river. 
He  had  massed  a  very  large  force  in  and  around  Oxford,  and 
while  he  held  possession  of  the  town.  General  W.  T.  Sher- 
man was  holding  his  headquarters  not  far  distant  in  the 
country.  Eelying  upon  the  Mississippi  Central  Railway  for 
transportation  of  his  supplies,  he  had  stationed  a  garrison  of 

some  1,1; 00  men,  under  command  of  Colonel  • ,  and 

Lad  accumulated  an  immense  quantity,  and  vast  stores  of  all 
sorts  of  provisions  and  munitions  of  war,  at  the  town  of 
Holly  Springs,  distant  thirty  milus  north  of  Oxford,  on  the 
railroad.  As  it  was  known  throughout  the  country  that 
such  was  the  fact,  a  body  of  the  Confederate  cavalry,  under 
the  command  of  General  Van  Dorn,  were  secretly  collected 
with  the  jAsm  of  cutting  off  the  suj^plies  of  the  army  of  inva- 


S92  John  N.  AVaddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

sion,  and  thus  to  compel  General  Grant  to  abandon  his 
grand  expedition  through  Mississij^pi.  Accordingly,  ^ith 
about  2,500  cavalry'  troops,  Yan  Dorn  made  very  quietly  a  cir- 
cuitous march  far  to  the  east  of  Grenada,  and  having  arrived 
at  a  sufficiently  safe  distance  from  the  enemy,  he  turned 
northward,  through  Pontotoc  and  Chickasaw  counties;  then 
wmding  again  westward,  he  made  his  way  through  the 
south-east  corner  of  Marshall  county,  and  about  daylight  of 
the  20th  or  21st  of  December,  he  dashed  into  Holly  Springs 
with  his  men,  and  captui'ing,  by  complete  surprise,  the  entire 
garrison  of  1,500  men,  proceeded  to  destroy  the  whole  amount 
of  the  accumulated  stores  of  General  Grant's  army,  by  burn- 
ing and  destruction  in  every  way.  It  was  reported  that  these 
stores,  piled  up  in  the  court-house  and  in  the  railroad  depot 
building,  and  standing  on  the  ground  fi'om  the  town  to  the 
station,  consisting  of  barrels  of  flour  f  oui'  deep  in  a  row,  and 
other  needful  supplies,  were  estimated  at  a  value  of  millions 
of  dollars,  and  of  all  this  nothing  was  saved. 

"Whatever  truth  or  exaogeration  mav  have  been  found  to 
be  the  case  in  these  reports,  the  result  proved  to  be  that 
General  Grant  was  compelled  to  break  up  his  entire  j^lan  of 
a  Southern  campaign,  and  to  retreat  with  his  grand  army 
precipitately  to  the  northward,  in  the  direction  of  Memphis, 
where  he  employed  himself  in  concerting  and  preparing 
other,  and  more  promising,  plans  of  campaign. 

As  Van  Dorn  had  no  artillery  and  no  transportation,  l:c 
seemed  to  be  satisfied  with  the  success  of  his  expedition, 
and  made  his  way  on  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi  Cen- 
tral E.  E.  safely  down  to  Grenada,  whence  he  had  begun  his 
inarch. 

To  return  from  this  digression,  Mr.  Hardeman  and  I  had 
fallen  in  with  Van  Dorn's  men,  in  straggling  companies  of 
three  or  four,  as  they  w^ere  on  the  way  to  Holly  Springs,  and 
from  them  we  learned  that  our  wa}' south  would  be  quite  safe. 
They  told  us,  furthermore,  that  the  cavahymen  of  the  enemy 


Among  Friends  at  Meridiax.  393 

liad  been  to  Pontotoc,  but  having  beard  something  of  Van 
Dorn's  expedition,  the}'  returned  in  great  haste  to  Oxford,  to 
Teport  to  Grant.  But  they  were  too  late,  Van  Dorn  had 
reached  Holly  Springs  and  had  accomplished  his  j)urpose. 
"We  rode  on  without  anything  to  obstruct  our  journey,  until 
IVednesday,  2J:th  of  December.  AVe  separated  on  that  day, 
as  we  arrived  at  Shuqualak,  a  station  of  the  Mobile  and  Ohio 
R.  E.  Here  Mr.  H.  relieved  me  of  my  faithful  friend,  Dr. 
Oray's  fine  horse,  and  he  stopped  with  a  relative  who  resided 
there.  The  train  passed  shortly,  and  I  took  a  seat  for  Meri- 
dian, Avhither  I  was  bouud.  I  was  unexpectedly  gratified  to 
find  on  the  train  my  friend  and  brother,  Eev.  W.  C.  Emer- 
son, a  Presbyterian  minister,  on  his  return  to  his  home  near 
Meridian,  having  been  on  a  trip  up  the  country.  We  arrived 
at  our  destination  about  11:30  o'clock  p.  m.,  and,  on  his  in- 
vitation, I  spent  the  night  at  his  house  comfortably  and 
pleasantly.  I  met  at  Meridian  several  of  my  old  friends  of 
former  days,  and  was  kindly  welcomed  by  them  all.  As  Mr. 
Emerson  was  at  this  time  the  stated  supply  of  one  of  the 
churches  to  which  I  had  been  for  several  years  j^i'eaching 
statedly,  Mt.  Moriah,  when  my  home  was  in  Jasper  county. 
Miss.,  during  the  iuten'al  from  1^4-1  to  1848,  I  w^as  very 
^asil}'  persuaded  to  accompany  him  on  the  following  Satur- 
day to  his  appointment.  There  I  had  the  pleasure  of  meet- 
ing many  old  friends,  who  had  been  my  parishioners  f;)ur- 
teen  years  previously,  and  among  them  was  my  devoted 
friend,  Mrs.  Watson  Evans,  at  whose  house  I  had  the  great 
pleasure  of  making  my  home  during  much  of  the  time  of  my 
war  pilgrimage,  from  1862  to  18G5. 

My  first  and  most  earnest  desire,  now  that  I  felt  myself 
safe  among  friends  in  the  South,  was  to  get  some  employ- 
ment in  which  I  might  be  useful.  It  was  suggested  that  it 
would  be  well  to  pay  a  visit  to  my  friend  and  brother,  Dr.  J. 
R.  Vrilson,  of  Augusta,  Ga.,  with  whom  I  had  been  closely 
associated  in  the  organization  of  the  General  Assemblv  in 


394  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

the  previous  3'ear.  I  remained  for  a  few  days  in  Missis- 
sippi, "with  my  old  friends,  visiting  and  preaching  among 
them,  and  then  turned  my  way  to  Georgia.  Passing  through 
Atlanta,  I  foimd  my  son  George  there,  in  the  hospital,  after 
the  battle  of  Miu'freesboro,  but  convalescent.  I  was  with 
him  one  day,  and  after  furnishing  him  with  some  needed 
clothing,  I  pressed  on  to  Augusta.  Here,  after  conference 
with  Dr.  Wilson  and  the  Committee  of  the  Bible  Society  of 
the  Confederate  States,  I  was  appointed  agent  of  the  Society 
for  the  West,  which  I  gladly  accepted,  and  returned  to  Mis- 
sissippi, made  the  necessary  preparations,  and  began  the 
work  of  the  a'rencv  on  the  7th  Februarv,  1863.  In  this 
work  I  continued  for  three  months,  j^i'esenting  the  cause  to 
the  people  of  Columbus,  Brandon,  Meridian^  Enterprise, 
Jackson,  Grenada,  and  to  the  country  churches  of  that  re- 
gion, successfully,  as  the  people  of  all  these  places  were  very 
zealous  in  the  interest  of  the  Confederacy,  on  every  account. 
As  the  General  Assembly  had  adjourned  at  Montgomery, 
Ala.,  to  meet  in  Columbia,  S.  C.  on  the  7th  of  May,  and  as  I 
was  stated  clerk,  I  suspended  the  work  of  the  agency  to  at- 
tend that  meeting.  On  my  way  to  Columbia,  in  passing- 
through  Augusta,  I  presented  my  report  of  the  first  quarter 
of  my  w^ork,  and  settled  my  accounts  with  the  committee. 


CHAPTEB   XXXYII. 

Appointed  Commissioner  of  Aemy  Missions  in  the  Mississippi  Aemt, 
—Two  Sad  Events  of  the  Yeak.  —  Akkival  of  My  Children  from 
La  Grange. 

THE  third  annual  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly  oc- 
curred, according-  to  a^Dpointment,  in  Columbia,  S.  C, 
on  May  1,  1863,  and  there  were  in  attendance  during  its  ses- 
sions forty  ministers,  and  twenty-four  ruling  elders.     Only 
thirty-live  of  the  forty-iiYe  Southern  Presbyteries  were  rep- 
resented at  this  meeting ;  the  Synod  of  Arkansas  had  but 
one  of  its  four  Presbyteries  represented;  the  Synod  of  Nash- 
ville only  two;  the  Synod  of  Texas  none  at  all,  as  the  enemy 
had  possession  of  the  river,  aiKl  of  the  city  of  New  Orleans. 
But  it  Avas  quite  an  imi3ortant  meeting,  as  may  be  seen  by 
reference  to  the  Minutes  of  1863.     Among  other  measures 
adopted  at  this  meeting  was  the  inauguration  of  a  system  of 
chaplaincies,  to  be  managed  by  the  Executive  Committee  of 
Domestic  Missions,   to   supply  the  religious  wants   of  the 
army.     On  motion  of  Dr  B.  M.  Palmer,  the  Assembly  re- 
solved to  engage  for  one  hour  in  a  free  conference  ui:»on  that 
subject.     Dr.    Pahner   had   received   a  communication  ad- 
dressed to  the  Assembly  by  Mr.  Samuel  Barnett,  of  Georgia,* 
in  which  this  subject  was  presented  for  consideration,  and 
he  had  sent  at  the  same  time,  by  letter,  the  sum  of  five  hun- 
dred dollars  collected  in  AVashington,  Ga.,  for  the  purpose  of 
assisting  in  the  su^iport  of  army  chaplains  who  might  be  ap- 
pointed under  the  authority  of  the  General  Assembly.     The 
result  was,  that  the  Standing  Committee  on  Domestic  Mis- 
sions, in  their  report,  recommended  that  we  proceed  to  es- 

395 


396  J.  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

tablisli  the  office  of  commissioner  to  each  of  the  grand  armies 
of  the  Confederacy,  ^vhose  duties  are  pointed  out  as  follows: 
"(1,)  To  labor  as  chaplains;  (2),  to  select,  and  secure  other 
chaplains;  (3),  to  procure  commissions  for  those  chaplains; 
(4),  to  welcome  and  employ  other  ministers  on  temporary 
\isits  to  the  army,  and  give  them  opportunities  for  usefulness ; 
(5),  to  circulate  books  and  tracts,  etc. ;  (6),  to  organize  this 
work,  so  that  our  church  should  have  the  opj)ortunity  of  do- 
ing good  in  this  interesting  field  of  labor." 

Eev.  B.  T.  Lacy  was  appointed  Commissioner  to  the  Army 
of  Virginia,  and  Dr.  Palmer  was  appointed  "provisionally 
to  the  Army  of  Tennessee."  He  was  appointed  in  this  way 
because  he  stated  that  he  must  be  "left  to  his  own  discre- 
tion with  regard  to  the  length  of  time,  and  he  proposed  to 
sei-ve  "on  his  own  charges."  It  was  also  left  to  the  Execu- 
tive Committee  to  appoint  other  commissioners  to  the  other 
great  armies  of  the  Confederacy. 

Under  this  last  provision,  I  was  appointed  Commissioner 
to  the  Army  of  Mississij)pi,  then  under  the  command  of 
General  Polk.  ^Thereupon  I  resigned  the  agency  of  the 
Bible  Society,  and  entered  at  once  upon  the  discharge  of 
the  duties  of  the  new  office  of  commissioner  to  the  army.  My 
time  was  spent  in  visiting  brigades  and  preaching  to  the 
soldiers,  every  facility  for  this  being  allowed  by  the  com- 
Inanding  officers ;  and  visiting  hospitals  where  our  wounded 
and  sick  men  were  confined ;  paying  the  salaries  of  our  chap- 
lains, and  aiding  in  every  way  in  the  work  of  preaching  and 
instruction  of  the  army  within  my  assigned  field  of  labor.  I 
can  give  only  a  brief  statement  of  the  work  actually  done  by 
me  during  the  j'ear  while  I  held  the  office.  I  preached  then 
not  less  than  one  hundred  sermons,  and  to  do  this  I  had  to 
travel  from  one  brigade  to  another,  many  miles  apart ;  and 
from  hospital  to  hospital,  located  in  Montgomery-  and  Me- 
ridian, and  Selma  and  Marion  and  Jackson,  and  in  these 
places,  not  once  only,  but  repeatedly,  and  so,  with  some  in- 


The  General  Assembly  of  1863.  397 

teiTuptions  upon  other  ^ork  assigned  by  the  Assembly,  I 
was  not  allowed  much  time  to  rest. 

The  Assembly  of  1863  acted  also  on  an  overture  from 
East  Hanover  Presbyteiy,  recommending  that  the  Assembly 
take  measures  to  secure  a  union  between  the  Old  and  New" 
School  branches  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  It  was,  there- 
fore, agreed  that  a  commitee,  consisting  of  Pev.  R.  L.  Dab- 
ney,  D.  D.,  Rev.  J.  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  Pev.  'William  Brown, 
D.  D.,  Pev.  J.  B.  Pamsey,  D.  B.,  Pev.  E.  T.  Bailed,  D.  B., 
Col.  J.  T.  L.  Preston,  and  F.  N.  AVatkins,  Esq.,  be  appointed 
to  confer  with  a  similar  committee,  should  any  such  be  ap- 
jDointed  from  the  United  Synod  of  the  Presb}i;erian  Church, 
touching  the  matter  of  a  union  between  that  body  and  the 
General  Assembly. 

Accordingly,  about  the  twenty-fifth  of  July,  this  commit- 
tee met  a  committee  from  the  United  S}-nod,  in  the  city  of 
Lynchburg,  Va.,  and  under  the  joint  chairmanship  of  Br. 
Babney  on  our  behalf,  and  the  eminent  Br.  J.  C.  Stiles  on 
their  part,  we  j)rayerfuliy  and  candidly  discussed  for  some 
days  all  the  doctrinal  points  which  might  be  supposed  to  be 
at  issue  between  the  two  bodies,  and  agreed  to  report  favor- 
ably to  the  two  separate  bodies  at  their  next  annual  meeting 
in  1864. 

My  time  was  spent  in  these  various  ways  most  generally 
in  Mississippi,  but  occasionally  in  adjoining  States,  as  it  was 
a  part  of  my  duty  as  commissioner  to  visit  the  churches, 
and  lay  before  them  the  wants  of  the  army  as  to  religious 
instruction  and  preaching,  and  to  raise  money  for  the  sala- 
ries of  those  chaplains  who  were  sent  to  the  arm}-  by  our 
Executive  Committee  of  Bomestic  Missions.  I  was  much  on. 
the  various  railroads,  passing  through  the  territory  occupied 
by  Gen.  Polk's  division,  and  spent  a  part  of  my  time  in  Mont- 
gomer\%  where  my  eldest  brother.  Prof.  James  P.  Waddel, 
lived,  and  sometimes  in  Jackson,  Mississippi,  in  both  of 
which  cities  were  large  hospitals.     On  one  of  my  visits  to 


398  John  N.  AVaddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

Jackson  I  met  the  intelligence  of  two  deaths  which  occasioned 
deep  distress  to  me.  The  one  of  these  was  that  of  a  very 
dear  and  intimate  friend  of  mine,  Eev.  John  H.  Miller,  of 
Pontotoc,  the  j)astor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  that  place. 
I  give  this  as  an  incident  of  very  deep  interest  on  two  ac- 
counts •  (1),  The  loss  of  a  noble  and  gifted  character,  who 
was  the  centre  of  not  only  a  large  circle  of  admiring  friends 
in  the  community  of  his  residence,  and  of  devoted  church 
members  whom  he  served  as  their  spiritual  leader  and  de- 
voted friend,  but  the  almost  idolized  husband  and  father 
of  a  large  family,  who  regarded  him  with  most  tender 
affection,  and  j)i'ofoundest  reverence  and  esteem.  The 
other  consideration  justifying  a  narration  or  record  of  his 
death  is  the  fact  that  it  furnishes  an  illustration  of  the 
fearful  horrors  of  the  brutal  and  unnatural  war  of  1861-'65. 
The  death  of  Rev.  Mr.  Miller  was  on  this  wise : 

He  was  an  ardent  Southern  patriot,  and  on  the  call  for 
troops  by  the  State  authorities,  he  volunteered  as  a  cavalry 
man,  and  was  elected  captain  of  a  company,  and  served  in 
Kentucky  for  a  while.  He  very  soon  was  promoted  to  a  col- 
onelcy, but  he  soon  also  made  the  discovery  that,  on  account 
of  the  uncontrollable  wickedness  of  soldiers  in  camp,  he'  was 
sadly  out  of  place,  and  he  resigned  and  returned  home.  He 
was  on  a  ministerial  visit  to  Pipley,  to  aid  the  pastor,  Eev. 
Wm.  A.  Gray,  in  conducting  a  sacramental  meeting.  Ee 
had  the  appointment  to  preach  on  Sabbath  morning,  when 
the  intelligence  reached  him,  on  Saturday  evening,  at  the 
house  of  Judge  Pogan  where  he  was  entertained,  that  Ripley 
was  occupied  by  a  body  of  cavahy  commanded  by  the  notori- 
ous Hurst,  ■who,  though  a  citizen  of  Tennessee,  had  entered 
the  Federal  service,  and  had  raised  troops  from  among  his 
neighbors  for  the  scourging  and  ravaging  of  the  country. 
Mr.  Miller,  of  course,  abandoned  the  aj^pointment  of  the 
next  day,  and  after  remaining  and  spending  the  night  with 
his  friend  in  safety,  the  question  of  the  best  coiu'se  for  him 


Death  of  Eev.  Mr.  Miller.  399 

io  pursue  under  the  circumstances,  was  discussed.  His  host 
strenuously  insisted  on  the  propriety  of  his  remaining  se- 
creted on  his  premises  until  the  raid  under  Hurst  should  be 
finished  and  the  raiders  should  have  departed.  But  ]\Ir. 
Miller  insisted  on  going  on  home  at  once,  as  he  felt  sure 
that  he  would  get  safely  on  his  way.  In  pursuance  of  this 
determination  he  mounted  his  horse  and  in  a  short  time  he 
met  one  of  Hurst's  lieutenants,  with  an  attendant  Federal 
soldier,  having  two  Confederate  soldiers  as  prisoners,  and  he 
was  captured.  As  they  were  then  on  the  way  to  Eipley,  Mr. 
M.  made  the  attempt  to  grasj)  the  pistol  from  the  holsters 
of  the  officer  as  they  rode  on  abreast,  whereupon  he  was 
immediately  shot,  and  again,  after  falHng  fi'om  his  horse, 
was  shot  a  second  time,  and  the  body  was  left  lying  in  the 
public  road,  dead,  after  they  had  robbed  him  of  his  horse, 
his  v.'atch,  and  a  sermon,  for  which  last  article  they,  doubt- 
less, had  very  httle  use ! 

Thus  this  most  excellent  man,  and  influential  and  useful 
minister,  wcs  ruthlessly  murdered  by  a  vagabond  raider, 
"vvho  was  onl}^  a  vile  traitor  to  his  country,  and  the  commu- 
nity deprived  of  a  high-toned  citizen,  and  a  most  virtuous 
and  lovely  family  plunged  into  the  deepest  grief.  The  body 
lay  exposed  during  half  the  day,  imtil  discovered  by  a  friend, 
Mrs.  B.,  living  near,  and  then  it  was  carefully  taken  and 
transported  to  Pontotoc,  where  it  was  placed  in  the  care  of 
the  disconsolate  family,  and  consigned  by  sorrowing  friends 
to  his  last  resting  place. 

The  other  case,  one  of  a  more  private  nature,  was  the 
death  of  "William  C.  Gray,  the  eldest  son  of  Dr.  Gray,  of 
whom  we  have  recorded  on  a  j^revious  page  that  he  had  been 
graduated  in  the  Class  of  1861,  of  La  Grange  College.  Willie, 
as  he  was  called  by  us  all,  was  a  very  remarkable  youth. 
Lovely  and  amiable  in  his  disposition,  attractive  in  person 
and  gentle  in  manner,  he  was  bright  and  promising  intellec- 
tually, and,  to  crown  all  his  other  traits,  he  was  a  modest, 


400  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

earnest  Christian.  He  was  among  tlie  first  to  volunteer  for 
the  war,  and  I  remember  the  morning-  when  he  and  his 
classmate,  Charles  Y.  Thompson,  were  standing  at  the 
clej^ot,  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  train  that  was  to  convey 
them  to  camp,  and  where  they  were  to  enter  the  lists  and 
encounter  the  perils  and  hardships  of  war.  Prof.  Meigs  and 
I  standing  near,  the  remark  was  made  by  one  of  us,  and 
affirmed  by  the  other,  "Is  this  not  costly  food  for  bullets'?" 
And  so  it  was.  They  were  comrades  in  many  an  army  expe- 
rience, but  Wilhe  never  returned  to  his  home  and  dear  ones. 
His  ending  of  earthly  life  and  w^ork  was  as  follows : 

In  the  latter  part  of  July,  18G2,  after  the  evacuation  of 
Corinth  by  Beauregard,  and  the  arrangement  made  by 
•which  General  Bragg  was  to  invade  Kentucky,  the  army 
was  marched  in  force  into  Kentucky,  and,  on  the  30th  of 
August,  General  Kirby  Smith,  with  a  division  to  which  our 
boys  belonged,  met  the  enemy  at  Kichmond,,  Ky.,  and 
achieved  a  victory.  After  this  fight,  and  Bragg's  battle 
w  ith  a  Federal  force,  at  Perr\wille,  under  Buel,  the  Southern 
troops  retreated  through  Cumberland  Gap,  carrying  with 
them  immense  quantities  of  supplies  of  every  descrij)tion, 
but  having  gained  no  other  advantages  whatever.  Our 
boys,  "Willie  Gray,  George,  mj'  son,  and  their  companions, 
"West  and  Thompson,  came  safely  out  of  the  battle  of  Eich- 
mond,  but  on  General  Kirby  Smith's  continuance  of  his 
march  towards  Covington,  "Willie  Gray  was  taken  sick  and 
left  on  the  way  for  recovery,  at  Cynthiana,  Ky.,  so  that  when 
the  army  of  General  Smith  was  on  the  retreat,  he  was  unable 
to  go  with  the  rest,  and  the  enemy  following  on  the  track  of 
our  army,  found  "Willie  and  took  him  prisoner,  and  he  was 
taken  to  Cairo,  where  he  died  and  was  buried.  Of  all  this, 
his  father  was  utterly  ignorant  until  the  winter  of  1862,  or 
spring  of  1863.  Dr.  Gray,  having  heard  in  some  way  that 
the  Federals  had  stopj^ed  in  Cairo,  thinking  that  probably 
Willie  w^as  there,  took  the  train  and  went  up  to  Colum.bus,, 


Death  of  "Willie  Gray.  ^01 

Ky.,  soon  after  I  liad  made  my  escape  from  La  Grange.  But 
wlien  he  arrh-ed  there  he  learned  that  all  possible  chance  to 
reach  Cairo  had  been  cut  oif  by  reason  of  a  panic  that  pre- 
vailed in  Cairo,  on  account  of  a  report  that  Forrest,  with  an 
immense  cavaliy  force,  was  approaching.  So  he  returned, 
and  came  down  through  Mississippi,  and  went  on  to  Vicks- 
bui'g,  having  learned  that  an  exchange  was  to  be  made  there, 
and  hoping  to  find  Willie  there.  When  he  reached  there, 
he  found,  indeed,  that  the  exchange  had  been  agreed  upon, 
and  that  many  of  our  boys  were  there  on  their  way  home, 
paroled;  but,  alas!  his  boy  had  been  left  in  his  grave,  at 
Cairo.  After  the  war,  to  end  the  story,  Dr.  Gray  succeeded 
in  recovering  Willie's  remains,  and  having  them  brought  to 
Memphis  and  buried  in  his  family  lot,  in  Elm  wood  Ceme- 
tery, 

As  I  have  said  in  a  j)revious  part  of  this  chapter,  I  learned 
all  this  on  the  occasion  of  one  of  my  visits  to  Jackson.  It  so 
happened  that  I  reached  Jackson  just  in  the  evening  of  the 
day  on  which  Dr.  Gray  had  left  Jackson,  to  retiU'n  home  to 
La  Grange.  He  learned  in  Jackson  that  I  was  expected  in 
that  place,  and  he  left  letters  explanatory  of  all  his  movements 
subsequent  to  the  time  of  my  departure  from  La  Grange. 
Among  other  letters,  I  found  one  from  my  daughter,  Mar^r 
West,  informing  me  that  she  and  her  sister  Bessie,  and  her 
brother  Gray,  had  come  out  of  the  lines  of  the  enemy,  and 
were  at  Pontotoc  at  that  time.  My  joy  may  be  imagined 
more  truly  than  can  be  expressed  by  me  in  words.  I  has- 
tened back  to  my  home  at  Mrs.  Evans',  packed  up  and  took 
the  train  for  Meridian,  thence  to  Okolona,  and  then,  by  hir- 
ing a  mule,  I  rode  on  to  Pontotoc,  and  found  my  children 
safeh'"  resting  with  the  bereaved  family  of  my  murdered 
friend  and  brother.  Miller. 

Let  me  state  a  fact  for  my  abohtion  friends  to  explain. 
With  my  children  when  they  came,  one  of  my  old  servants, 
without  any  expression  of  such  a  wish  on  their  part,  came 
26 


402  John  N.  AVaddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

out  with  them,  determined  to  share  their  lot  whatever  it 
might  be,  leaving  her  own  children  behind.  To  dismiss  this 
jDoint,  she  remained  with  them  all  the  rest  of  her  days, 
taking  care  of  them  until  she  closed  her  faithful  life  of  ser- 
vice, and  was  nursed  kindly  and  tenderly  in  her  last  illness, 
and  buried  decently,  with  the  assistance  of  friends,  at  their 
home  in  Mississippi,  and  there  she  rests  in  peace  until  the 
morning  of  the  resurrection.  She  died  in  faith.  She  would 
hardly  have  left  her  own  children  had  she  not  loved  these 
children  that  she  had  "raised;"  and  she  would  hardly  have 
loved  them  if  she  had  been  so  cruelly  and  unjustly  treated 
as  the  falsely  so-called  friends  of  the  colored  people  delight 
to  represent. 


CHAPTEE   XXXYIIL 

Moke  Perils  and  Escapes. — Residenxe  at  Mekidian  and  at  Mont- 
gomery. — Wanderings.  — Change  or  Work.  — In  Danger  of  Cap- 
ture. 

DUEING  tliis  year,  18G3,  several  of  tlie  more  disastrous 
and  disliearteuing  misfortunes  came  upon  the  Confed- 
erate government.  Among  them  was  the  fall  of  Yicksburg, 
which  was  surrendered  on  the  morninsr  of  the  4th  of 
July  by  a  capitulation,  the  parties  to  which  were  General 
Pemberton,  of  the  Confederate  army,  and  General  Grant, 
in  command  of  the  Union  forces.  After  this  event  there 
was  a  general  expectation  that  the  armies  under  Grant  and 
Sherman  would  march  across  Mississippi,  eastward  from 
Vicksburg,  aaid  such  an  expedition  did  advance  as  far  as 
Jackson,  and  rumors  reached  Meridian  that  the  forces  were 
on  the  march,  having  crossed  Pearl  Eiver.  As  might  be 
supposed,  great  panic  seized  the  people  about  Meridian,  and 
nearly  aU  were  fl^'ing  from  their  homes  and  temporary  places 
of  refuge.  As  my  children  were  at  the  time  making  their 
home  near  Meridian,  with  my  friend,  Eev.  Mr.  Emerson,  I  also 
I'emoved  them,  as  speedily  as  possible,  to  Montgomery,  Ala., 
and  placed  them  there  in  my  brother's  family.  In  this  place 
they  had  a  comfortable  home  for  nine  months,  while  I  was 
almost  entirely  devoted  to  the  work  of  visiting  the  various 
points  of  the  western  army  and  the  many  hospitals  in  Ala- 
bama and  Mississippi,  making  my  headquarters  at  Mont- 
gomery. I  spent  the  year  1863  in  hard  work  among  the 
soldiers  and  chaplains,  in  this  way  having  little  time  to  rest, 
and  often  suffering  from  loss  of  sleep,  and  being  obHged  to 

403 


404  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

avail  myself  of  modes  of  transportation  of  the  most  uncom- 
fortable and  disagreeable  sort.  I  was  received  most  cordi- 
ally  always  by  the  officers  and  private  soldiers,  and  the 
church  chaplaincy  with  which  I  was  charged  as  commis- 
sioner and  sujDerintendent,  during  1863-4,  was,  I  have  no 
doubt,  attended  wilh  great  benefit  to  the  army,  as  I  know 
that  many  of  our  mcst  godly  and  zealous  ministers  devoted 
themselves  to  the  work  of  preaching  to  the  soldiers  in  camp 
and  in  visiting  the  hospitals  and  ministering  to  the  spiritual 
wants  of  the  sick  and  w^ounded,  and  soothing  and  cheering 
the  last  hours  of  many  a  brave  and  gallant  soldier. 

It  was  previous  to  the  fall  of  Vicksburg  that  I  determined 
to  2)ay  a  visit  to  our  boys,  J.  D.  West,  C.  Y.  Thompson,  and 
my  son  George,  in  camp  at  Shelbyville,  Tenn.  I  left  Mont- 
gomery on  June  12th,  and  reached  Chattanooga  on  Satur- 
day evening,  and  spent  the  night  there.  Here  I  met  with 
some  of  my  La  Grange  friends  in  the  hospital,  who  gave  me 
a  considerable  budget  of  news  in  regard  to  the  state  of  mat- 
ters in  our  old  home.  On  awaking,  I  passed  through  a 
mental  conflict  on  the  subject  of  my  duty  as  regards  prose- 
cuting my  onward  travel  on  the  Sabbath.  I  arrayed  the 
arguments  ^:>7*'0  and  con  about  as  follows  . 

1,  The  evils  of  going  forward  on  the  one  side,  and  those 
of  resting  on  the  other:  1st,  If  I  remain  I  shall  incur  addi- 
tional expense.  2.  Be  lonely :  1st,  If  I  travel  I  shall  fall  in 
with  uncongenial  company ;  2nd,  ShaU  be  apprehensive  of 
peril  fur  travelhng.  3.  My  conscience  will  condemn  me. 
"What  are  the  reasons  for  travelling  '^  1.  I  shall  be  with  the 
boys ;  2.  May  attend  divine  service  in  camp,  perchance  even 
have  the  privilege  of  listening  to  Dr.  Palmer.  Even  with 
these  thoughts  passing  through  my  mind  I  saw  that  the  de- 
cision was  that  I  should  remain  in  Chattanooga.  But  when 
I  considered,  1st,  that  by  remaining  I  should  enjoy  the 
j)rivilege  of  reading  my  Bible ;  2nd,  could  attend  divine  ser- 
vice in  some  of  the  churches ;  3rd,  the  travel  was  not  a  work 


Preaching  ix  Camp.  405 

of  necessity  or  of  mercy;  4tli,  I  should  have  a  clear  con- 
science ;  5tli,  it  was  certainly  right  to  remain ;  I  liesitated 
no  longer  as  to  this  question,  and  spent  the  Sabbath  read- 
ing my  Bible,  attending  preaching  both  morning  and  even- 
ing, by  a  young  brother  then  a  stranger  to  me,  but  since 
then  well  known  as  Key.  H.  B.  Boude,  D.  D.,  j^astor  of  sev- 
eral churches  in  various  parts  of  the  Southern  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  President  of  Austin  College,  Sherman,  Texas. 
At  the  time  to  which  I  refer  he  was  a  chaplain  in  the  Con- 
federate army.  His  text  of  the  morning  was  IMatt.  xvi.  26. 
In  the  evening  heard  Eev,  Mr.  Boude  again,  text  not  now 
remembered. 

I  reached  Shelby ville  about  G  o'clock  p.  m.,  and  by  the 
kindness  of  a  friend,  who  was  Post-commandant,  I  obtained 
the  use  of  a  horse,  and  rode  out  to  the  camp,  about  three 
miles,  and  found  the  boys  well,  and  glad  to  see  me.  I  re- 
mained in  camp  and  in  the  town  about  a  week,  during 
which  time  I  preached  to  the  soldiers  of  Vaughan's  and 
AYalthall's  commands  four  times,  and  had  the  pleasure  of 
meeting  Dr.  Palmer  and  of  hearing  him  preach  to  a  vast 
assembly  in  the  open  air ;  and  as  he  stood  upon  a  rocky 
mound,  and  the  audience  stood,  and  sat,  and  lay  upon  the 
slope  before  him,  the  scene  was  unspeakably  solemn,  and 
the  sermon  equally  solemn  and  impressive.  Among  the  va- 
rious regiments  I  met  many  of  my  old  pupils,  former  stu- 
dents of  the  Vniversity  and  of  La  Grange  College,  some  of 
whom  survived  the  war,  and  others  passed  away  during  its 
continuance,  either  in  battle  or  in  the  hospital. 

In  leaving  the  camp,  Dr.  Palmer  and  I  called  on  General 
Bragg  at  his  headquarters,  and  were  received  courteously. 
I  obtained  from  the  General  a  passport,  and,  leaving  Shel- 
byville  on  Saturday,  20th  June,  arrived  at  Wartrace,  the 
j)oint  of  junction  of  the  branch  road  from  Shelby  ville  with 
the  main  road  to  Chattanooga ;  found  myself  checked  by 
orders  from  headquarters  that  all  citizens  should  leave  the 


406  John  N.  AVaddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

train,  as  a  brigade  of  soldiers  had  been  unexpectedly  ordered 
to  Chattanooga,  and  thence  to  East  Tennessee,  to  reinforce 
General  Buckner,  to  meet  a  raid  of  the  enemy  on  Knoxville. 
I  returned  by  next  train  to  camp,  and  after  spending  Sab- 
bath there,  left  again  on  Tuesday,  and  arrived,  without 
further  interruption,  at  Montgomery. 

With  the  exception  of  my  trip  to  Lj-nchburg,  Ya.,  to 
meet  the  Joiut  Committee  of  the  Southern  Presbj^terian 
Church  and  the  United  Synod,  to  which  I  have  referred,  I 
spent  my  time  as  usual  in  travelling  from  post  to  post,  from 
hospital  to  hospital,  in  prosecution  of  my  duties  as  commis- 
sioner. The  most  important  event  of  the  war,  the  fall  of 
Vicksburg,  occurred  on  July  4th.  This  rendered  it  neces- 
sary to  remove  my  children  to  a  more  secure  place  of  refuge, 
inasmuch  as  there  were  immediately  in  circulation  flying- 
rumors  of  the  approach  of  the  Federal  troops  toward  Me- 
ridian. There  were  immense  crowds  of  refugees  passing 
through  the  place,  and  the  trains  on  the  railroads  w^  ere  filled 
to  their  utmost  capacity,  so  that  I  found  great  difficulty  in 
securing  transportation  for  my  family  and  their  baggage. 
I  was  successful,  however,  in  getting  to  Montgomery  via 
Mobile,  and  placing  them  in  care  of  my  brother,  James  P. 
AVaddel,  where  they  were  in  perfect  safety  and  comfort.  I 
returned  to  Mississippi  very  soon,  as  the  rumors  of  an  east- 
ern advance  of  General  Grant's  army  proved  to  be  false.  A 
veiy  large  number  of  the  Yicksburg  soldiers  having  been  re- 
leased on  parole,  and  among  them  all  their  officers  in  com- 
mand, an  encampment  was  formed  at  Enterprise,  on  the 
Mobile  and  Ohio  railroad,  and  there  I  spent  a  great  deal 
of  my  time,  and  preached  much  in  the  camp  and  in  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  thus  I  worked  on  through  the 
winter  of  1863-'G4. 

I  must  not  omit  to  mention  that  Rev.  Dr.  E.  II.  Ruther- 
ford, having  been  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in 
Yicksburg  previous  to  the  beginning  of  the  siege,  remain rd 


A  Marriage  Ceremony.  407 

in  tliG  city  during  the  entire  time  of  its  investment  by 
Grant,  suffering  all  the  hardships  to  which  the  besieged  army 
and  the  citizens  had  been  subjected,  and  came  out  with  the 
soldiers  Avho  were  on  parole.  He  soon  became  actively  en- 
gaged as  a  missionary  chaplain  to  the  troops  in  camp  at 
Enterprise,  at  the  same  time  supplying  the  Presbyterian 
church  at  that  place. 

"VVe  were  associated  in  many  such  works  in  the  camps  and 
hospitals.  There  were  many  other  chaplains  with  whom  it 
was  my  privilege  to  associate  during  those  times  of  gloom 
and  trial.  Among  them  I  call  to  mind  Eev.  Dr.  Thomas  R. 
Markham,  Eev.  Dr.  J.  H.  Bryson,  and  the  brethren,  Rev. 
Dr.  Richmond  Mclnnis,  and  Rev.  Dr.  H.  M.  Smith,  Rev.  D. 
D.  Sanderson,  and  A.  P.  Si  Hi  man,  Rev.  S.  J.  Bingham,  and 
Rev.  Dr.  W.  T.  Hall,  with  many  others  of  our  most  devoted 
and  prominent  ministers,  all  of  whom  were  faithful  and 
zealous  in  supplying  the  religious  wants  of  the  army. 

The  year  1864  began  darkly  and  gloomily,  both  within  me 
and  in  the  prospects  of  the  country.  The  first  service  I  was 
called  to  perform  was  to  officiate  at  the  marriage  of  Miss 
Kate  Calhoun  to  a  Lieut.  George  Jones,  of  our  army.  The 
lady  was  the  daughter  of  James  L.  Calhoun,  (a  nej^hew  of 
the  great  J.  C.  Calhoun,)  who  had  been  a  pupil  of  mine  in 
the  first  school  I  ever  taught,  when  I  was  in  my  nineteenth 
year,  but  who  was  not  much  younger  than  I.  He  now  held 
some  office  under  the  Confederacy,  having  his  place  of  busi- 
ness in  Montgomery.  The  ceremony  was  solemnized  at  the 
town  of  Tuskeegee,  in  the  presence  of  a  fine  assemblage  of 
friends  and  relatives  of  the  bride,  who  was  a  most  charming 
lady. 

The  next  incident  that  occurred  in  my  private  history  was 
that  my  youngest  boy,  now  just  having  passed  his  seven- 
teenth birthday,  entered  the  army  of  the  Confederacy  in 
January,  and  thus  I  had  furnished  to  the  cause  of  my  native 
South,  in  her  struggle  for  independence,  my  two  sons  and 


408  JoHx\  X.  AVaddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

an  almost  innumerable  host  of  young  friends  and  former 
pupils,  among  whom  was  the  husband  of  my  eldest  daughter. 
Rev.  James  D.  AVest,  and  the  affianced  of  my  younger 
•daughter,  C.  Y.  Thompson. 

The   months  rolled  slowly  on  through  the  winter   and 
spring,  with  one  additional  incident  in  my  narrative  which  I 
projDose  to  record,  which,  whilo  it  was  in  the  line  of  my 
worli,  was  exceedingly  perilous,  and  unpleasant  at  times,  un- 
til its  final  and  fortunate  denouement.    About  February  1st 
I  left  Meridian  with  a  view  of  paying  a  visit  to  North  Mis- 
sissippi, to  raise  money  for  army  missions,  and  visit  Forrest's 
division  of  cavalry,  then  in  camp  at  Oxford.     I  arrived  at 
Oxford  on  the  3rd  of  February,  aud  made  my  home  with  my 
long-tried  and  devoted  friends,  Mr.  Rascoe  and  family,  visit- 
ing many  friends  beside,  all  of  whom  seemed  glad  to  sec  me. 
I  preached  in  Oxford  to  a  crowd,  and  raised  $';18.75  for  the 
army  mission.     Also  j^reached  i:t  College  Church,  and  raised 
for  army  missions  ^181,  for  the  Bible  cause  $200,  and  for 
T'oreign  Missions  $G0 — total  at  both  places,  $759,75.     I  re- 
mained in  and  about  Oxford  until  Februaiy  8th.      During 
this  interval  the  town  was  filled  with  exciting  rumors  of  the 
Yankees  having  captured  Jackson  and  Canton  and  going  on 
eastward,  our  troops  falling  back.     It  was  also  reported  that 
a  strong  column  of  Federal  cavalry  was  moving  out  of  Mem- 
phis.    We  were  told  also  that  the  forces  under  Forrest  were 
to  evacuate  Oxford,  and  all  the  army  stores  were  to  be  moved, 
and  every  one  was  to  abandon  Oxford  who  could  get  away. 
Of  course,  under  these  circumstances  of  peril  and  confusion, 
nothing  could  be  accomplished  by  stopping  longer  there ; 
accordingly,  I  obtained  from  a  friend  a  mule,  and  rode  out 
to  the  neighborhood  of  Hopewell  Church,   and  spent  the 
night  with  Brother  Patton,  pastor,  j^r cached  the  next  day 
(Tuesday,  9th),  and  raised  $53  for  army  missions  and  $10 
additionrJ  fiom  Brother  Patton.     On  Thursday,  11th,  I  rode 
over  to  Lebanon  Church,  driven  in  a  bugg}'  by  Daniel  Mc- 


A  Fedeeal  In\'asion.  409 

F'arlaiir!,  Jr.,  then  a  bov  of  twelve  or  fourteen  years,  now 
Hev.  Dr.  McFarland,  of  Staunton,  Va.  I  preached  at  Le- 
banon Church  on  the  12th  of  February,  and  raised  $106  for 
the  mission. 

I  silent  the  night  there,  and  we  were  still  assailed  with 
Tumors  of  a  confused  and  unsatisfactory  nature.     On  the 
12th,  by  another  relay  on  a  borrowed  horse,  and  accom- 
panied by  a  young  friend,  I  rode  over  to  Pontotoc  and  spent 
the  night  (Saturday)  with  my  afflicted  friends,  the  Miller 
family,  of  my  murdered  friend  and  brother,  Eev.  J.  H.  Mil- 
ler, having  an  appointment  to  preach  the  next  day  at  11 
o'clock.     Early  the  next  morning  (Sabbath),  just  after  dress- 
ing and  coming  from  my  room,  I  was  met  by  a  Confederate 
artilleryman  in  the  hall,  who  told  me  that,  havhig  learned 
that  I  was  at  Mrs.  Miller's,  and  supposing  that  I  was  not 
willing  to  be  captured,  he  had  come  to  warn  me  to  leave 
Pontotoc  as  quickly  as  possible,  as  he  had  received  reliable 
information  that  at  New  Albany,  a  small  town  about  nine^ 
teen  miles  above  Pontotoc,  12,000  cavalry  troops,  under  a 
commander  who  was  best  known  as  "  ^Vhiskey  Smith,"  had 
encamped  the  night  before,  and  would  probably  reach  Pon- 
totoc about  10  o'clock  A.  M.     Of  course,  I  expressed  my 
thanks  to  my  unknown  friend  for  his  kindness  in  giving  me 
this  timely  warning,  and  my  mind  was  quickly  made  up  to 
leave  at  once.     But  I  had  no  horse,  nor  had  I  made  any 
preparation  to  obtain  one.     Making  known  my  decision  to 
ihe  family  that  I  would  leave  at  the  earliest  moment,  and  at 
the  same  time  the  fact  of  my  being  without  a  horse  or  con- 
veyance of  any  kind  whereby  to  make  my  escape,  the  whole 
difficulty  was  removed  by  the  quick  perception  and  generous 
proposal  of  Miss  Mary  Miller,  the  daughter  of  my  friend, 
whose   brutal   murder  has  been  recorded  in  a  urecedino- 
chapter.     To  set  the  matter  in  its  just  hght,  it  is  worthy  of 
the  reader's  time  and  attention  to  understand  the  circum- 
stances connected  with  Miss  Miller's  conduct  on  this  occa- 


41C  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  T).,  LL.  D. 

sion.  Her  eldest  brother,  Edward  G.  Miller,  inlieiiting  tli© 
ardent  patriotism  of  his  father,  and  fired  "with  the  martial 
spirit  and  unflinching  courage  "which  characterized  his  fel- 
lo^Y-students  of  La  Grange  College,  had  Tolunteered  in  1861, 
and  joined  a  company  of  cavalrs' ;  and  on  occasion  of  an  en- 
gagement which  occurred  between  his  company  and  a  body 
of  Federals  near  Moscow,  ten  miles  west  of  La  Grange,  on 
the  Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad,  young  Miller  w^as 
killed,  and  his  horse  and  all  his  accoutrements  were,  of 
course,  taken  possession  of  by  the  enemy,  as  this  engage- 
ment w^as  disastrous  to  our  forces.  The  sad  intelligence  of 
the  death  of  this  beloved  young  soldier  having  reached  the 
family.  Miss  Mary  heroically  resolved  to  go  to  the  camp  of 
the  enemy  at  Moscow  and  recover  her  brother's  remains. 
She  put  her  resolve  into  execution  as  soon  as  j^ossible,  went 
to  the  battle-field,  and  lecovered  from  the  commander  the 
remains  of  her  brother,  and,  by  her  eloquent  a]")peals,  also 
obtained  his  horse,  saddle,  and  bridle,  and  succeeded  in 
having  all  brought  homo  in  safety.  The  body  lies  buried 
by  the  side  of  the  remains  of  his  father  in  the  cemetery  at 
Pontotoc.  The  horse,  a  sacred  and  cherished  memorial  of 
the  beloved  brother,  was  taken  care  of,  and  it  was  on  this 
occasion  offered  to  me,  in  my  dire  extremity,  as  the  means 
of  my  escape  from  the  threatened  capture.  I  shall  never 
lose  the  sense  of  profound  gratitude  to  Mi~s  Mary,  nor  my^ 
admiration  for  her  heroic  character. 

I  was  thus  again,  in  the  kind,  protecting  providence  of 
God,  enabled  to  escape  what  I  conceived  to  be  imminent 
peril,  and  I  left  Pontotoc,  immediately  after  an  early  break- 
fast, for  Okolona,  the  nearest  station  on  the  Mobile  and 
Ohio  railroad,  at  which  j)lace  I  proposed  to  take  the  train 
for  Meridian.  Here,  however,  I  experienced  the  truth  of 
the  proverb,  "Man  proposes,  but  God  disposes";  for  as  I 
approached  Okolona  I  met  a  solitary  horseman,  just  from, 
the  place-,  and  from  him  I  learned  that  the  train  I  had  pro- 


Peepaeing  foe  Flight.  411 

posed  to  take  liad  left  Okolona,  and  that  no  other  train  was 
to  be  run  on  the  road  under  present  arrangements.  He 
gave  as  the  reason  for  this  state  of  matters  that  the  tele- 
graph operator  at  Meridian  had  just  sent  his  last  dispatch 
over  the  wires  to  Okolona  previous  to  his  departure,  to  the 
effect  that  the  advance  of  Sherman's  army  was  just  entering 
Meridian  as  he  left. 

Again  I  found  myself  "at  my  wit's  end,"  and  surely  knew 
not  "  what  next  ?  "  or  whither  to  direct  my  steps.     I  rode  on 
to  the  station,  nevertheless,  and,  calling  at  the  residence  of 
an  elder  of  our  church,  Mr.   Shepherd,  who  received  me 
kindly,  I  mad 3  known  to  him  my  pressing  strait  and  my  in- 
formation in  regard  to  the  prospective  invasion  of  the  coun- 
try by  Smith's  cavalry  force,  expressing  my  behef  that  the 
enemy  w^ould  reach  Okolona  that  day.     He  directed  me  to 
the  house  of  another   elder,   Mr.   Wiley  Bearing,   an  old 
friend  of  mine,  who  lived  four  miles  in  the  country,  as  the 
safest  place  of  refuge.     In  the  meantime  he  informed  me 
that  a  lady  at  his  house  was  just  then  expecting  to  leave  fur 
Georgia  or  South  Carolina  in  a  small  vehicle  or  carriage, 
and  that  she  wished,  if  possible,  to  leave  next  day,  if  not 
prevented,  and  she  would  be  glad  of  my  company  and  pro- 
tection.    He  planned  for  me  to  go  out  at  once  to  Mr.  Dear- 
ing's  and  spend  the  night,  and  that   he  (Mr.  Shepherd) 
would  keep  me  informed  as  to  the  arrival  or  non-arrival  of 
the  Federal  cavalry.     If  they  should  fail  to  come,  he  would 
send  a  horse  for  me  on  the  next  day,  and  I  could  then  leave 
in  safety.     I  carried  out  this  plan;  rode  out  and  spent  the 
night  very  pleasantly  and  very  comfortably  with  my  friend, 
Mr.  Bearing,  and  next  day,  after  leaving  Miss  Mary  Miller's 
horse,  etc.,  Avith  him,  with  a  letter  informing  her  where  the 
horse  would  be  found,  I  rode  back  to  Okolona.     I  foimd 
that  the  expected  raid  had  not  reached  there,  and  that  the 
arrangement  which  I  had  considered  decided,  that  I  should 
leave  with  the  lady  aforesaid,  had  failed,  as  she  had  aban- 


412  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

doned  the  idea  of  leavino-.  So,  once  more,  I  was  disap- 
pointed as  to  a  way  of  escape,  and  the  troops  I  so  much 
dreaded  were  constantly  expected.  But  the  good  providence 
of  God  was  still  over  and  round  about  me  for  my  protection. 
I  found  at  Okolona  that  a  Confederate  cjuartermaster's 
train,  which  had  made  Okolona  headquarters  all  along,  w^as 
preparing  to  leave  and  escape  the  enemy,  and  were  to  go 
east  to  Aberdeen  that  ni^ht.  On  calling  on  the  officer  in 
charge,  I  found,  to  my  great  gratification,  that  one  of  the 
men  in  the  train  was  Captain  Street,  who  had  married  a 
lady  friend  of  my  daughter,  and  making  known  to  h:i:i  my 
condition,  he  at  once  most  kindly  offered  me  a  fine  horse, 
saddle,  and  bridle,  which  I  could  use  as  far  as  Aberdeen. 
Mailiug  my  letter  to  Miss  Miller  (informing  her  about  her 
horse),  I  left  about  ten  o'clock  p.  m.,  in  company  with  my 
friend  and  his  wife  (who  travelled  in  his  buggy),  with  cpnte  a 
cavalcade.  We  did  not  pause  until  about  one  o'clock  a.  m., 
having  accomplished  about  ten  miles.  We  remained  there 
in  perfect  safety  until  next  morning  after  breakfast,  when 
"we  renewed  our  journey  uninterruptedly  to  Aberdeen,  which 
we  reached  about  eleven  o'clock  a.  m.  Hero  we  parted,  my 
friend,  Captain  Street,  having  orders  to  proceed  no  farther 
on  my  route,  and  I  gave  up  his  horse,  with  earnest  thanks 
for  his  great  kindness. 

I  now  began  to  realize  that  we  were  in  no  great  danger  of 
the  pursuit  I  had  so  much  dreaded,  but,  at  the  same  time, 
there  was  the  anxiety  still  resting  upon  my  mind  as  to  my 
future  return  to  Montgomery,  and  as  to  the  mode  of  prose- 
cuting my  route  eastward. 

At  Aberdeen  I  was  fortunate  in  meeting  quite  a  number 
of  old  friends  who  had  patronized  the  University  at  Oxford, 
Dr.  Sj'kes,  Mr.  Randall,  Mr.  Evans,  and  others,  besides  also 
Ira  G.  Holloway  and  Lucien  Sykes,  former  students  at  Ox- 
ford, and  I  am  sure  I  never  was  more  cordially  received 
at  any.  place  in    all  my  life.     I   found,  however,   at  first. 


A  "Way  of  Escape.  413' 

very  great  difficulty  in  securing  a  plan  of  prosecuting  my 
onward  travel.  After  seeing  my  friends,  and  trying  ear- 
nestly to  get  on  in  some  way  or  other,  one  expedient  after 
another  having  failed,  I  met  with  a  gentleman,  Mr.  Walton, 
a  citizen  of  Aberdeen,  who  had  a  pair  of  line  horses  and  a 
carriage  which  he  was  very  anxious  to  save  from  the  "  Yan- 
kees." His  plan  was  to  send  them  to  his  son-in-law,  a  Dr. 
Green,  who  was  a  surgeon  in  the  Confederate  army.  He 
had  learned  that  Dr.  Green,  with  all  the  Meridian  medical 
staff,  had,  on  the  approach  of  Sherman's  forces,  made  their 
escape,  and  taken  up  their  headquarters  at  Marion,  Ala. 
Still  there  remained  another  obstacle  to  the  full  and  entire 
carrying  out  of  the  plan,  and  that  was  to  have  with  me  some 
companion  or  companions  to  aid  me  in  the  enterprise  of 
driving  the  horses  and  taking  care  of  them,  for  about  one 
hundred  miles  across  the  country,  and  delivering  everything 
safel}'  to  Dr.  Green.  Let  me  not  omit  to  record  another  in- 
stance of  the  continual  care  and  kindness  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence manifested  toward  me  in  all  these  perilous  times. 
There  were  then  in  Aberdeen  two  officers  of  Gen.  Josej^h  E. 
Johnson's  army,  on  furlough,  very  anxious  to  get  away  be- 
fore the  enem}'  should  reach  there  (for  it  was  confidently 
expected  that  the  forces  of  Smith  would  be  in  Aberdeen 
sooner  or  later),  and  when  we  met  and  compared  notes  we 
very  quickly  and  successfully  arranged  to  take  charge  of 
the  entire  establishment  and  deliver  it  to  Dr.  Green  in  Mar- 
ion, Ala.,  this  point  being  on  the  direct  route  which  they 
must  travel  back  to  their  command.  These  gentlemen  were 
a  Major  Pegram,  of  Tippah  county.  Miss.,  and  a  Mr.  Peck, 
of  Aberdeen.  A  still  more  favorable  circumstance  for  us 
was  that  the  latter  gentleman  had  a  servant  who  would  re- 
turn with  him  to  the  arm3\  So  we  had  nothing  to  do  but 
to  make  ourselves  ready  to  go  on  our  way  rejoicing,  in  the 
most  comfortable  way  possible,  with  a  fine  family  carriage, 
a*  pair  of  fine  horses,  and  a  driver.     Having  stored  away 


414  John  N.  AVaddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

our  small  amount  of  baggage  in  the  yeliicle,  v,e  left 
Aberdeen  on  Wednesday  about  sunset,  and  drove  on  over 
bad,  miry  roads,  and  spent  the  night  very  comfortably  at  a 
farm-house  distant  some  six  miles.  How  thankful  was  I 
that  we  were  now  evidently  safe  from  pursuit,  and  that 
the  way  was  now  clear  for  an  uninterrupted  retreat  from 
the  dreaded  foe  !  Our  journey  was  successfully'  prosecuted 
through  Pickens  county,  Ala.,  via  Columbus,  Miss  ,  having 
a  brief  interview  in  the  street  of  that  city  with  my  friend 
and  brother,  Rev.  J.  A.  Lyon,  D.  D.,  who  agreed  with  me 
that  it  was  wise  in  us  to  place  as  great  a  distance  as  possi- 
ble between  the  enemy  and  our  fine  establishment  I  We 
passed  through  Clinton,  Eutaw,  and  Greensboro  to  Mai'ion. 
As  I  passed  the  cemeter}"  in  Eutaw  I  recalled  the  fact  that, 
just  Avithin  a  few  hundred  yards,  lay  buried  the  ashes  of  my 
first-born  little  boy,  which  we  had  laid  to  rest  a  cjuarter 
century  previously,  and  nature  even  then  claimed  for  his 
memory  from  my  troubled  heart  the  tribute  due.  We 
reached  Marion  on  Saturday  afternoon  in  perfect  safety,  and 
gladly  delivered  over  to  Dr.  Green  the  equipage  with  which 
we  had  been  entrusted  by  his  father-in-law,  Mr.  Walton,  of 
Aberdeen. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

"Finale  of  the  Shekman-Smith  Raid.^Retukn  to  Mississippi  with 
MY  Children. — Marriage  of  my  Youngest  Daughter. — Fourth 
Meeting  of  the  General  Assembly. — Change  of  Location  in 
Army  Work. 

I  MET  in  Marion  all  the  medical  men  who  were  in  Meri- 
dian when  I  left  there  on  mr  expedition  of  visiting  the 
northern  part  of  Mississi^Dpi,  the  account  of  which  I  have 
given  in  extenso  in  the  preceding  chapter.  Dr.  Isom,  and 
Dr.  John  Smith,  and  Dr.  Branham  were  of  Oxford  previous 
to  the  war ;  and  besides  them,  I  met  also  Dr.  Frazier,  an 
old  friend,  of  Tupelo,  Miss.  I  was  greatly  gratilied  also  to 
meet  again  Eev.  Dr.  Eaymond,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Marion.  I  took  up  my  quarters  in  the  same 
building  with  the  medical  men,  and  preached  twice  on  Sab- 
l)ath,  and  collected  $210  for  army  missions.  I  only  re- 
mained in  Marion  imtil  Monday  morning,  22nd ;  when  on 
my  way  to  Montgomery,  passing  through  Marion  Junction 
Station,  saw  our  troops  in  considerable  numbers  passing  on 
to  reinforce  General  Polk  at  Demopolis,  who,  with  his  army, 
was  awaiting  the  advance  of  Sherman  from  Meridian.  From 
them  I  learned  that  General  Cheatham's  Division  was  on 
the  way  to  join  General  Polk,  and  accordingly  I  found  this 
to  be  so  on  my  arrival  at  Selma,  for  all  of  my  boys  were 
there  awaiting  orders  to  go  by  next  train  on  to  DemopoHs. 
It  was  soon  ascertained,  however,  that  this  expedition  was 
needless,  as  General  Sherman  had  evacuated  Meridian, 
after  burning  the  Httle  ^411age,  and  had  marched  back  to 
Vicksburg.  So  far  as  I  was  able  to  learn  the  facts  of  these 
movements  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  they  were  about  as 

415 


416  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D..,  LL.  D. 

follows :  It  was  the  design  of  General  Sherman  to  march 
his  forces  from  Vicksburg  eastward  across  the  State,  and 
that  he,  with  these  troops,  would  effect  a  junction  at  Meri- 
dian with  a  large  body  of  cavalry  from  Memphis,  under 
Smith,  ard  then  both  bodies  of  troops  united  should  con- 
tinue their  march  across  to  Montgomery,  and  take  possession 
of  Alabama  and  Georgia.  The  entire  plan  was  defeated  by 
the  cavalry  imder  General  Forrest,  who  met  Smith  in  the 
prairies  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Mississipj^i,  and  drove 
him  back,  after  a  disastrous  battle,  with  terrible  loss.  This 
being  ascertained  by  Sherman,  he  left  without  further  at- 
tempts at  the  grand  invasion,  and  the  troops  which  he  had 
led  in  such  formidable  array  were  led  back  again  by  him, 
with  the  same  experience  of  a  certain  king  of  France  in  the 
old  couplet,  of  whom  it  is  related  that  he — 

"With  twice  teu  thousand  men. 
Marched  up  the  hill,  and  then  marched  back  again. " 

As  there  was  no  further  demand  in  that  direction  for  re- 
inforcements for  General  Polk's  troops.  General  Cheatham's 
division  was  ordered  to  return  to  Georgia.  Our  boys  were 
j)assing  back  through  Montgomery,  and  we  had  pleasant 
visits  from  them  until  they  were  ordered  on  their  w^j.  They 
left  in  high  spirits  and  good  health,  and  we  cheered  them 
on  to  the  front,  and  followed  them  wdth  our  fervent  prayers, 
unconscious  of  the  solemn  trials  through  which  we  and  they 
were  destined  to  pass  before  we  should  be  allowed  to  meet 
again. 

My  children  had  spent  about  nine  months  in  Montgomery 
with  my  brother's  family,  but  although  I  knew  they  were 
not  only  cordially  welcome,  but  gladly  entertained  there, 
with  their  uncle,  aunt  and  cousins,  yet  I  felt  that  it  would 
suit  better  on  all  hands  that  they  should  return  to  Missis- 
sippi, as  the  enemy  had,  at  this  time,  ceased  to  be  at  all 
troublesome.     I  therefore  made  very  comfortable  arrange- 


Eeminiscences  of  Was.  Times.  417 

ments  to  have  tliem  make  tlieir  Lome  with  Judge  West,  the 
father-in-law  of  my  eldest  daughter,  her  husband  being- 
in  the  army.  This,  I  may  say,  was  assuredly  among  the 
most  secluded  and  inaccessible  retreats,  and  consequently 
one  of  the  safest  places  that  could  have  been  selected  in  the 
State,  as  a  home  for  a  family,  where  one  might  reasonably 
expect  to  be  secure  from  raids,  and  at  the  same  time  afford- 
ing all  the  comforts  and  social  enjoyments  of  a  most  excel- 
lent Christian  family.  Judge  West  was  a  very  prominent 
elder  of  our  church,  and  universally  esteemed  for  his  excel- 
lent character  and  devoted  piety,  and  was  full  of  kindness. 
Here  my  daughters  were  welcomed  by  the  judge  himself, 
as  well  as  by  the  ladies  of  the  family,  and  in  that  retired 
spot  they  remained  quietly  until  they  were  invited  by  Rev. 
J.  H.  Alexander,  of  Kosciusko,  a  neighboring  town,  to  take 
part  with  him  in  a  female  academy  located  there,  of 
which  he  was  principal.  During  the  latter  part  of  theiir 
abode  at  Judge  West's  hospitable  home,  on  the  25th  of  Jan^ 
uary,  1865,  Charles  V.  Thompson,  of  w^hom  I  have  written 
frequently  in  the  preceding  part  of  this  memoir,  came  on  a 
visit  to  my  youngest  daughter,  on  furlough  from  the  army, 
and  they  were  married  after  their  long  engagement.  The 
invitation  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Alexander  was  accepted  not  lon^ 
after  this  event,  and  they  remained  in  the  Academy  a» 
teachers,  boarding  with  him,  until  the  close  of  the  war.^ 
There  I  for  the  present  leave  them,  that  I  may  go  back  to 
matters  of  public  interest  which  occurred  in  the  interim. 

As  the  time  approached  for  the  fourtli  annual  meeting  of 
the  General  Assembly,  commissioners  began  to  make  their 
appearance  from  various  Presbyteries  in  the  West,  on  their 
way  to  Charlotte,  N.  C.  There  was  no  commissioner  from 
Arkansas,  and  Rev.  R.  F.  Bunting  was  the  sole  representa- 
tive of  Texas,  and  this  because  he  w^as  already  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Mississippi,  serving  as  chaplain  in  a  Texas  regi- 
ment.    There  w'ere  no  commissioners  at  all  from  Nashville^ 


418  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

Synod,  as  Tennessse,  East  and  Middle,  were  overrun  by  the 
Federals.  Still  there  were  three  from  the  Synod  of  Mem- 
phis, notwithstanding  that  West  Tennessee  and  North  Mis- 
sissipj)i  were  in  the  hands  and  under  the  control  of  the 
enemy.  We  had  a  membership  of  sixty-five  afc  Charlotte. 
We  left  Montgomery  on  the  29th  of  April,  and  spent  the 
Sabbath  in  Augusta,  Ga. 

I  must  not  omit  to  make  mention  of  a  signal  escape  from 
a  sudden  and  violent  death  which  I  experienced,  through 
the  mercy  of  God,  just  as  I  left  Montgomery.  I  was  con- 
veyed in  a  buggy,  driven  by  a  rash  driver,  to  the  depot,  and 
on  ax^proaching  the  railroad,  an  unobserved  freight  train 
came  down  just  in  front  of  our  crossing.  At  this  the  horse 
took  fright,  whirled  suddenly,  and  would  have  dashed 
across  and  carried  us  all  over  a  precipice,  but  by  a  kind  pro- 
tecting Providence  he  fell,  broke  a  shaft  and  a  wheel  of  the 
buggy,  and  I  stepped  out  upon  the  ground  in  safety.  Truly 
thankful  for  this  preservation,  I  took  my  seat  on  the  train, 
and,  in  company  with  other  commissioners,  we  passed  suc- 
cessfully through  Columbus,  Macon,  and  Augusta,  reaching 
the  latter  place  on  Saturday,  where  we  sj^ent  Sabbath.  We 
arrived  in  Charlotte,  N.  C,  on  Monday,  2nd  of  May,  and  as 
there  still  was  an  interval  of  two  days  before  the  meeting  of 
the  Assembly,  I  availed  myself  of  the  opportunity'  to  visit 
Davidson  CoUege,  distant  about  twenty  miles.  There  I 
spent  a  pleasant  time,  in  company  with  Dr.  Kirkpatrick,  the 
President  of  the  College,  and  my  former  colleague  and 
friend.  Prof.  J.  "R.  Blake,  the  exercises  of  the  College  being- 
still  in  operation ;  and  although  laboring  under  the  terrible 
pressure  of  these  fearful  war  times,  it  is  a  wonderful  his- 
toric fact  to  her  credit,  that  "Davidson  College  was  one  of  the 
few  colleges  in  the  Confederac}^  not  closed  during  the  war."i 

^  Since  writing  this  sentence,  I  learn  that  the  University  of  Alabama 
was  kept  in  operation  during  the  war,  and  probably  the  Military  Insti- 
tutions. 


Meeting  of  the  General  Assembly.  419 

At  this  meeting  of  the  Assembly,  on  Thursday,  5th  of  May, 
Eev.  Dr.  John  S.  AVilson  was  elected  Moderator.  The  most 
important  measure  adopted  at  this  meeting  was  the  union 
of  the  Southern  Presbyterian  Church  with  the  United 
Synod  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  The  report  of  the  joint 
committee  of  these  two  bodies  was  read  by  the  chairman  of 
our  committee,  Rev.  Dr.  R.  L.  Dabney.  There  was  a  con- 
siderable discussion  of  the  report  /?ro  and  con,  but  with 
eight  dissentients,  some  more  and  some  less  thoroughly  op- 
posed, it  was  passed  and  ratified. 

I  spent  my  time  during  the  sessions  of  the  Assembly  at 
the  house  of  a  Captain  White,  of  the  Southern  army,  who 
was  absent  with  his  command ;  but  we  were  hospitably  en- 
tertained by  Mrs.  White,  a  noble-hearted  Christian  lady, 
who  was  sister-in-law  of  my  classmate  and  friend,  E.  J. 
Erwin,  in  the  University  of  Georgia,  in  1828-'29.  It  was 
also  a  great  joy  to  me  that  he  was  present,  though  not  a 
commissioner  to  the  Assembly,  as  we  had  an  opportunity  of 
personal  intercourse  during  several  days,  which  was  our  last 
meeting,  as  he  did  not  long  survive  our  separation.  We 
foimd  ourselves  greatly  changed.  We  were  not  only  thirty- 
iive  years  older  than  when  we  parted  in  Athens,  Ga.,  in 
1829,  but,  as  we  trusted,  we  had  both  experienced  a  still 
greater  change  in  our  spiritual  life,  having  passed  from  the 
condition  of  careless  young  men  to  that  of  Christians,  he  to 
serve  God  as  a  ruling  elder  in  the  church,  and  I  as  a  min- 
ister of  the  blessed  gospel. 

On  my  return  west  after  the  adjournment  of  the  Assem- 
bly, as  I  passed  through  Columbia,  S.  C,  I  was  informed  by 
Dr.  J.  L.  Wilson,  Secretary  of  Domestic  Missions,  that  I  had 
been  appointed  commissioner  to  the  Department  of  the 
Army,  under  the  command  of  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston. 
I  stopped,  therefore,  at  Atlanta  as  I  passed,  and  ascertained 
that  our  army  was  falling  back  before  Sherman ;  that  the 
two  armies   were   above   Marietta,   and   ail   the    sick   and 


420  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

wounded  of  onr  army  were  every  day  arriving  at  that  point. 
I  went  then  to  Marietta,  and,  stopi^ing  with  Dr.  Setze,  a 
friend,  whose  wife  was  my  niece,  I  spent  a  night  there,  and 
on  the  morning  of  the  next  day  I  found,  on  a  freight  train, 
my  son-in-law,  James  D.  West,  and  my  son,  George,  on  sick 
furlough,  going  to  the  hospital  at  Newnan.    Charles  Thomp- 
son, who  had  been  wounded,  had  also  been  sent  back  to 
Newnan,  where  he  had  friends,  and  was  taken  care  of  there. 
I  remained  a  day  with  the  boys,  and  after  a  hurried  visit  to 
Montgomery,  and  arranging  business  concerns  there  con- 
nected with  my  change  of  location,  I  returned  to  Newnan, 
and  I  learned  that  my  youngest  boy  (Gray)  also  had  been 
sent  back,  worn  down  and  sick,  but  could  not  learn  to  what 
place  he  had  been  sent.     After  vain  efforts  to  find  him,  I 
visited  Iho  hospital  at  La  Grange,  Ga.,  and  there  I  found 
him,  well  cared  for  by  some  of  my  friends,  among  them  Dr. 
Evans,  surgeon  in  charge,  one  of  my  Aberdeen  acquaint- 
ances.    A  brother  Presbyterian  minister,  Eev.  T.  F.  Mont- 
gomery, pastor  at  La  Grange,  after  that  removed  my  boy  to 
his  own  house ;  and  after  I  had  preached  at  the  hospital,  on 
the  30th  of  June,  I  left  Gray  in  good  hands,  and  when  he 
became  convalescent,  he  went  back  to  the  arm3^     I  returned 
to  Newnan,  ai-id  found  that  James  West  had  gone  back  ta 
the  front,  but  that  George  was  still  there.     Eev.  Dr.  St-x-cey, 
pastor  of  the  church  at  Newnan,  was  conducting  a  meeting 
of  some  interest,  and  many  soldiers  there  in  the  hospital 
were  attending,   and  some  of  them  professed  conversion, 
among  whom  was  my  son  George,  who  joined  the  church  at 
that  time  and  place.     I  preached  a  week  for  Brother  Stacey 
in  Newnan,  and  once  at  a  country  church  of  his  twelve 
miles  west  of  Newnan.     I  was  kindly  entertained  during  my 
stay  with  Dr.  Calhoun,  and  after  a  visit  of  a  week  at  Mar- 
ietta, where  I  waited  on  the  sick  and  wounded,  I  had  occa- 
sion to  leave  there  for  a  few  days.     On  my  re-turn  to  Marietta 
I  found  everything  in  great  confusion.     Dr.  Setze's  family 


Aemy  Movements.  421 

had  left,  with  whom  I  had  spent  my  time ;  his  lot  had  been 
converted  into  a  cavalry -horse  lot,  the  house  abandoned,  and 
in  the  town  the  appearance  was  as  if  every  one  who  could 
leave  had  left  and  were  leaving.  This  was  about  July  1st. 
I  remained  until  the  night  of  the  3rd,  when,  learning  that 
the  place  was  to  be  evacuated,  I  went  to  headquarters  and 
secm-ed  the  appointment  of  agent  to  go  with  some  govern- 
ment property  to  Atlanta  that  afternoon.  I  took  my  seat 
by  the  open  door  of  a  freight  car  loaded  with  stores,  and  as 
the  train  did  not  leave  as  early  as  was  expected,  I  was  a  si- 
lent watcher  for  many  hours  of  the  silent  but  steady  march 
of  our  army  as  they  made  theii-  way  to  the  point  of  safety 
beyond  the  Chattahoochee  river,  within  seven  miles  of  At- 
lanta. During  this  time  the  enemy  kept  up  a  sullen  shell- 
ing of  the  now  empty  town  and  firing  their  cannon  upon  the 
imoccupied  works.  All  reached  the  place  of  their  encamp- 
ment in  safety,  and  I  arrived  in  Atlanta  about  midnight  of 
the  3rd.  AVe  learned  that  Sherman's  army  entered  and 
took  possession  of  IMarietta  on  the  morning  of  the  4th. 
General  Johnson  halted  his  army  on  the  south  bank  of  the 
river,  and  for  the  time  the  enemy  moved  slowly  and  cau- 
tiously down  South. 


CHAPTEE  XL. 

Sojourn  in  Atlanta  and  in  Camp. — General  Johnson  Kelieved. — 
Evacuation  OF  Atlanta, — Stay  in  Eufaula. — Death  of  my  Son 

AT  JONESBORO.  — ArMY  MOVEMENT  ToWARD  NaSHVILLE. 

I  REMAINED  in  Atlanta  about  one  month  watching  for 
opportunities  to  do  something  for  the  boys.  It  was  just 
before  the  evacuation  of  Marietta  by  our  troops  that  James 
West  and  a  number  of  others,  being  out  on  a  kind  of  skirmish 
west  of  Marietta,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Kenesaw  Mountain, 
were  caj)tured  and  sent  to  Johnson's  Island  as  prisoners, 
and  this  put  an  end  to  their  active  service.  They  were  not 
released  until  the  close  of  the  war.  I  found  it  almost  im- 
possible to  do  any  thing  in  the  way  of  my  chaplaincy  and 
commissioner  work  in  Johnson's  army,  for  the  simple  reason 
that  they  were  not  stationary  long  enough  at  a  time  for 
much  visitation.  I  was  making  my  headquarters  in  Atlanta, 
and  took  up  my  board  at  a  house  where  one  of  my  former 
La  Grange  pupils  was  boarding.  He  had  been  disabled  in 
the  army,  and  was  ordered  to  serve  on  a  military  court  that 
was  sitting  at  that  time  in  Atlanta.  I  shared  his  bed-room 
and  his  bed  Tvath  him.  His  name  was  Wm.  M.  Ingram,  and 
he  was  a  universal  favorite  in  college,  and,  surviving  the 
war,  became  a  Presbyterian  minister,  very  acceptable  and 
extensively  useful,  giving  bright  promise  of  a  future  in  the 
ministry,  when  he  was  brought  to  a  premature  end  of  his 
term  of  service  by  a  wasting  insidious  disease.  With  him 
I  was  very  much  blessed,  as  a  friend  and  a  congenial  com- 
panion. I  was  able  to  go  out  to  the  camp  every  day  for  a 
short  time,  and  spent  one  Sabbath  at  the  headquarters  of 
General  Featherston  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  R.  Mark- 

422 


Kemoval  of  General  Johnston  423 

ham,  and  preached  three  thnes,  once  at  Canty's  Brigade  and 
twice  at  Featherston's.  While  there  engaged  in  preaching, 
some  exciting  news  was  brought  into  camp  about  the  move- 
ments of  the  enemy.  I  spent  the  night  there,  however,  and 
returned  to  Atlanta  next  morning.  The  first  intelhgence 
which  we  received  on  getting  back  was  that  orders  had  been 
received  from  Richmond  relieving  General  Johnston,  and 
putting  General  Hood  at  the  head  of  the  department.  I 
have  rarely  ever  witnessed  such  a  distressing  and  dishearten- 
ing influence  produced  by  any  piece  of  news  as  that  whick 
followed  the  removal  of  General  Johnston,  manifested  in  the 
saddened  and  gloomy  appearance  of  the  officers  and  private 
soldiers.  At  that  time  the  General  was  assuredly  the  ob- 
ject of  the  admiration,  confidence  and  love  of  the  men  of  that 
ai'my.  The  dissatisfaction  was  universal  among  the  citizens 
and  the  whole  community  and  the  country. 

The  court  to  which  I  have  referred,  and  with  which  I  was 
somewhat  associated  as  a  boarder,  was  very  soon  after  this 
ordered  to  i-emove  their  quarters  to  Macon.  As  I  saw  that 
there  was  no  further  work  which  I  could  do  at  that  time,, 
while  there  was  nothing  but  one  retreat  after  another  in. 
progress,  I  took  advantage  of  the  train  on  which  the  mem- 
bers of  this  court  were  to  leave,  and  took  passage  for  Macon. 
I  hardly  knew  why.  We  arrived  there  on  the  evening  of 
Friday,  July  22nd,  and  spent  that  night  there.  Next  morn- 
ing found  me  desolate  and  lonely,  in  the  utmost  bewilder- 
ment and  ignorance  as  to  the  course  to  be  pursued  under 
the  surrounding  circumstances.  I  knew  that  the  way  was 
blocked  up  to  the  Atlanta  army,  and  the  raih'oads  were 
about  to  be  closed  as  to  their  running  in  that  direction.  I, 
however,  after  breakfast,  strolled  along  down  to  the  depot, 
thinking  that  I  might  discover,  by  the  movements  of  trains, 
in  what  direction  to  shape  my  course.  Just  as  I  reached 
the  station,  carpet-bag  in  hand,  I  found  a  train  on  the  eve 
of  depai'ting  on  a  trip  to  Eufaula,  Ala.,  where  a  large  hos- 


424  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

'pital  liad  been  csiablished  for  our  sick  and  wounded.  As 
an  acquaintance,  standing  on  the  platform  of  one  of  the 
passenger  cars,  beckoned  to  me  to  get  upon  the  (rain,  I  did 
so.  This  gentleman  was  one  of  a  relief  committee  sent  up 
from  South  Georgia  and  Alabama  to  minister  to  the  soldiers 
^ho  were  in  the  army  from  that  region  such  articles  of  food 
and  clothing  as  they  should  need,  and  he  was  now  return- 
ing. My  decision  was  made,  without  further  deliberation, 
to  go  to  the  Eufaula  hosi^ital,  and  there  await  future  devel- 
.opments.  I  Avas  the  more  inclined  to  pay  this  visit  to  this 
^lace  from  the  fact  that  a  cousin  of  mine  resided  there,  who 
had  been  my  playmate,  companion,  and  fellow-student  at 
Athens,  Ga.,  in  our  3'outhful  days.  "We  reached  the  place 
at  a  late  hour  that  evening.  On  our  way  down  we  passed 
the  place  afterwards  known  by  horrible  notoriety  as  the 
Andersonville  prison  for  the  captured  soldiers  of  the  Fed- 
eral army.  Even  then  there  were  in  j)rison,  said  to  be,  thirty 
thousand  of  the  victims  of  the  cruelty  and  savage  barbarity 
jji  the  wretch  ^Yirz.  He,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  was  ar- 
rested by  the  Secretary  of  War  of  the  United  States  in  Au- 
gust, 1865,  and  tried  by  a  special  military  commission.  He 
was  indicted  *'for  subjecting  the  j^risoners  to  torture  and 
great  suffering,  by  confining  them  to  unhealthy  and  un- 
wholesome quarters ;  by  exposing  them  to  the  inclemency  of 
the  winter,  to  the  dews  and  burning  tsun  of  the  summer ;  by 
compelling  the  use  of  impure  water ;  by  furnishing  insuffi- 
•cient  and  unwholesome  food ;  also,  for  estabhshing  '  the 
dead  line,'  and  ordering  the  guard  to  shoot  down  any  pri- 
soner attempting  to  cross  it ;  for  keeping  and  using  blood- 
liounds  to  hunt  down  prisoners  attempting  to  escape ;  and 
for  torturing  prisoners  by  confining  them  in  the  '  stocks.* 
'Wirz,  having  been  found  guilty  on  these  charges,  was  ex- 
ecuted by  hanging  on  November  10,  1865."  If  half  these 
jmrliculars  were  true,  it  must  be  admitted  that  he  deserved 
his  fate. 


Death  of  Youngest  Son.  425 

I  remained  at  the  residence  of  my  cousin  (who  -was  teach- 
ing a  large  school  in  Eufaula)  two  or  thi-ee  weeks.  Here  I 
found  a  large  hospital  of  Confederate  soldiers,  which  I  vis- 
ited; and  as  the  Presbyterian  church  of  this  place  was  va- 
cant, they  engaged  my  services  for  their  pulj^it  every  Sab- 
bath during  my  stay  there,  which  covered  about  three 
months.  About  the  last  of  August  I  had  occasion  to  visit 
Montgomery,  and  during  the  time  of  my  absence  the  iU- 
fated  battle  of  Jonesboro',  below  Atlanta,  was  fought.  Al- 
though rumors  were  abundant  on  the  train  of  the  battle 
then  in  progress,  yet  no  particulars  could  be  gathered  that 
were  rehable.  On  my  return  to  Eufaula,  at  a  late  hour, 
after  the  family  had  retired,  I  also  retired,  and  slept  till 
dawn.  I  was  awakened  by  a  heavy  knock  at  my  door,  and 
a  dis2:)atch  was  handed  me,  which  I  read  by  the  grey  light 
of  early  morning,  containing  these  dreadful  words  : 

"Your  son,  Gray,  was  killed  lliis  morning  bj-  a  fragment  of  shell.'' 
"[Signed]  John  Ingram, 

"■A.  A.  A.  Oen.  of  General  Cheatham." 

I  knew  that  others  had  j)assed  through  these  great  sor- 
rows in  those  fearful  times  of  soul  trials ;  but  for  me,  I 
must  believe  that  this  was  a  blow  exceeding  in  terrible  se- 
verity all  my  previous  trials  combined.  O,  my  son!  my 
son  I  my  youngest,  my  darling  boy  !  Would  any  sacrifice 
have  been  too  great  could  it  have  shielded  thee  from  such  a 
fate,  and  saved  me  from  such  a  calamity  ?  Only  seventeen, 
bright  and  promising  and  affectionate!  Little,  indeed,  or 
rather  not  at  all,  did  the  thought  of  such  a  fatal  result  pass 
through  my  mind  when,  but  a  few  months  previously,  I  gave 
my  unwise  consent  to  his  joining  his  brother  and  other 
friends  in  the  army  !  God  only  knows  the  bitterness,  the 
heart-breaking  agony  of  that  dreadful  morning.  He  had 
never  made  any  profession  of  rehgion,  but  the.  testimony  of 
his  friends  and  kindred  in  the  army,  with  whom  he  had 
held  conferences  on  the  subject  from  time  to  tune  duiing 


426  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

his  brief  term  of  service,  gave  me  ground  of  hope  that  he 
was  a  Christian.  Nothing  else  could  soothe  my  grief ;  yet 
I  shall  bear  the  wound  upon  my  very  soul  down  "  with  sor- 
row to  the  grave." 

To  intensify  my  bitterness,  I  had  an  api^ointment  to  preach 
on  that  very  day  in  the  Eufaula  Church.  I  lilled  the  ap- 
pointment, I  hardly  know  how.  Ko  doubt  I  need  the 
special  pardoning  love  and  mercy  of  my  heavenly  Father  for 
dishonor  done  to  the  cross  of  Christ  on  that  day.  May  I 
find  that  mercy  on  the  day  yet  to  come,  from  Him  who  givesr 
us  these  gentle  words  of  tenderness  and  love,  "  Like  as  a 
father  pitieth  his  children,  so  the  Lord  pitieth  them,  that 
fear  Him;"  "He  knoweth  our  frame,  He  remembereththat 
we  are  dust."  I  remained  at  Eufaula  a  few  days  in  the  hope 
that  I  should  receive  a  letter  explanatory  of,  or  enlarging 
the  dispatch,  but  I  waited  in  vain.  And  as  I  found  the  sus- 
pense intolerable,  and  my  mind,  in  its  dark  and  gloomy  im- 
aginings, was  suggesting  all  manner  of  dreadful  things  that 
might  have  occurred  in  connection  with  the  remains  of  my 
boy,  I  resolved  to  return  to  the  camp,  if  possible,  and  learn 
the  true  condition  of  matters  by  personal  inquiry.  On  ar- 
riving at  Macon  I  met  a  friend  and  former  neighbor  of  East 
Mississippi,  who  belonged  to  the  army,  and  I  learned  from 
him  that  my  son  Gorge,  assisted  by  a  young  man  of  his 
compan}',  who  was  also  from  La  Grange,  had  been  allowed 
to  prepare  a  decent  coffin  for  his  remains,  and  they  had  laid 
them  to  rest  in  the  cemetery  at  or  near  Jonesboro.  This 
was,  indeed,  some  mitigation  of  my  sorrow,  and  subject  of 
gratitude  to  God,  as  I  reflected  upon  the  dreadful  treatment 
to  which  the  bodies  of  the  slain  soldiers  were  sometimes 
subjected,  and  from  all  which  his  body  had  been  rescued. 

As  the  camp  where  the  defeated  army  of  General  Hood 
rested  after  the  battle  was  distant  not  very  far  above  Macon,  I 
jiursued  my  journey  to  that  point,  and  found  my  boys,  George 
and  Charles  Thompson,  safe,  and  glad  to  welcome  me.     I 


Resigns  Office.  427 

spent  several  days  with  them,  and  preached  four  times  in 
General  Vaugiian's  Brigade,  the  last  of  ^\hich  was  on  an  ap- 
pointed fast  day,  and  once  in  General  Lowry's  brigade ;  this 
officer  being  a  Baptist  preacher  of  Mississippi  of  high  stand- 
ing, and  after  the  war  an  honored  and  esteemed  member  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  University  of  Mississippi  from 
1872  to  1876.  Ascertaining  that  General  Hood  would  soon 
break  up  his  camp  and  move  with  the  remnant  of  his  troops 
to  Nashville  on  the  ill-fated  expedition,  resulting  in  the  en- 
tire breaking  up  of  the  army  and  his  removal  from  command, 
I  saw  at  once  that  my  connection  with  the  commissionership 
of  that  army  was  dissolved,  as  I  had  no  horse,  nor  was  there- 
any  railway  transportation,  and  to  accompany  the  army  on 
foot  was  a  matter  of  utter  impracticability.  After  a  melan- 
choly visit  to  the  grave  of  my  slain  soldier  boy,  I  took  leave 
of  the  boys  and  returned  to  Eufaula,  arranged  all  my  affairs 
there,  gave  up  the  church,  resigned  the  office  of  commis- 
sioner, and  left  there  about  the  latter  part  of  October. 


CITAPTEE   XLI. 

Appointment  to  a  New  Service,  and  Last  Days  of  the  Confedekact. 
— Gloom  and  Despondency.  — Destitution  of  the  South. 


0 


N  arriving  in  Montgomery  I  was  told  tliat  there  was  in 
contemplation  by  the  Synod  of  Alabama  the  founding  of 
an  asylum  for  the  orphans  of  deceased  Confederate  soldiers. 
1  was  offered  the  agency  of  that  enterprise  by  a  committee 
of  the  Synod,  which  I  accepted ;  and  to  illustrate  the  fearful 
depreciation  of  the  Confederate  finances,  whereas  just  be- 
fore, while  acting  as  commissioner,  my  salary  had  been 
fixed  at  $2,500  to  $3,000  and  expenses,  now  I  w^as  employed 
at  a  salary  of  $600  per  month,  or  $7,200  per  annum,  and 
all  expenses !  M}''  first  visit  in  my  agency  was  to  Mobile, 
where  I  was  kindly  received  and  hospitably  entertained,  in 
part  by  Captain  "Wheeler,  a  warm-hearted  elder  of  our 
church,  and  partly  by  Thomas  A.  Hamilton,  Esq.,  a  member 
of  the  committee  on  the  asylum.  Eev.  Dr.  Burgett,  pastor 
of  Government  Street  church  of  Mobile,  was  very  active  and 
zealous  in  the  cause,  visiting  with  me  and  canvassing  among 
the  people.  Very  little  success  attended  my  efforts  in  that 
city.  I  cannot  now  recall  statements  made  to  me  by  differ- 
ent parties  to  account  for  this  comparative  failure;  perhaps 
it  was  really  owing  to  the  destitution  and  poverty  occasioned 
by  the  pressure  of  the  war,  which  had  then  been  in  deso- 
lating progress  for  nearly  four  years.  From  Mobile,  then, 
little  was  collected,  and  when  I  reported  subsequently  to 
the  committee  in  Montgomery  if  I  could  show  in  cash  or  sub- 
scriptions anything  above  my  bare  expenses  from  that  place, 
I  cannot  now  recall  it.  But  I  had  a  set  of  jewelry  contributed 
to  the  cause  by  Mrs.  Dr.  Burgett,  which  I  handed  over,  and 
a  five  hundred  dollar  bill  of  Confederate  currency,  handed 

428 


A  Confederate  Oephanage.  429 

me  by  a  gentlemau  with  whom  I  uuexpectedly  met  on  a  car, 
a  casual  acquaintance  from  La  Grange,  Tenn. 

I  spent  my  time  while  in  Mobile  in  presenting  the  cause 
in  public  and  in  private.  I  preached  in  the  Government 
Street  cinu-ch  and  in  the  Jackson  Street  church,  and  at 
tended  prayer-meetings,  but  collected  with  small  success. 
As  I  was  engaged  in  the  work  on  a  certain  morning,  I  found 
my  La  Grange  friend  to  whom  I  have  just  alluded,  and  on 
ascertaining  what  I  was  engaged  in,  he  simply  remarked, 
''  I  know  the  cause  is  a  good  one,  and  I  know  the  man  who 
is  acting  in  it,  and  so  I  hand  you  my  mite,"  or  words  to  that 
import,  and  with  that  he  j^laced  in  my  hand  the  five  hundred 
dollars.  This,  to  be  sure,  was  worth  httle  intrinsicall}-, 
but  it  was,  at  that  time,  much  the  largest  coutribution  I 
had  received,  and  I  felt  encouraged  and  expressed  my 
thanks.  I  remained  in  Mobile  some  days,  until  the  friends 
of  the  cause,  on  consultation,  decided  that  nothing  could  be 
done  at  that  time.  I  returned  to  Montgomery,  and  after  a 
brief  stay  there  I  visited  Selma,  and  presented  the  asylum 
cause  with  very  encouraging  success.  With  the  efficient 
cooperation  of  the  pastor,  Eev.  A.  M.  Small,  I  succeeded  in 
obtaining  subscriptions  and  in  cash  about  $40,000,  of  which 
amount  the  sum  of  $10,000  was  donated  by  one  gentleman 
in  cash.  He  was  editor  of  a  very  popular  daily  paper  in 
Selma. 

This  was  truly  satisfactory  work,  and  all  that  remained 
to  make  it  a  grand  success  was  to  have  bought  cotton  with 
the  money,  as  could  have  been  done,  and  had  been  done, 
by  Mr.  "WTiiting  in  Montgomery.  But  as  there  was  a 
shadow  of  the  coming  storm  just  then  visible,  I  left  the 
subscriptions  in  Selma,  in  order  that  I  might  visit  Marion, 
28  miles  distant,  for  the  purpose  of  canvassing  that  place 
and  its  surroundings.  I  was  sure  of  ultimately  collecting 
every  dollar  of  the  Selma  subscription  on  returning  from 
this  visit.     In  carrying  out   my  proposed  canvass,   I  laid 


430  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  B. 

the  cause  before  the  j^eople  of  Marion,  v/ith  the  earnest 
help  of  Kev.  Dr.  Eaj^mond,  and  before  the  Fairview  church, 
•with  its  devoted  pastor,  Rev.  E.  A.  Mickle,  and  Yalley 
Oreek  church,  with  the  aid  of  Kev.  James  Watson ;  and  we 
were  riding  a  great  deal  over  the  country  visiting  every 
family  where  it  was  supposed  we  could  raise  a  contribution, 
but  met  with  very  indifferent  success.  It  was  just  then,  as  I 
w^as  about  returning  to  Selma  to  finish  the  work  w^hich  had 
been  so  auspiciously  begun  for  collecting  the  subscriptions 
ah'eady  made,  when  we  learned  that  the  little  city  of  Selma 
was  being  surrounded  b}-  fortifications,  expecting  an  attack, 
and  that  every  citizen,  without  distinction,  and  all  able- 
bodied  men  were  set  to  work  on  the  entrenchments  and 
breastworks.  I  could  not  venture  under  such  circumstances 
to  return.  As  this  was  near  the  close  of  March,  it  would 
have  been  the  surest  and  most  speedy  way  to  my  closing 
the  business  of  raising  money  or  of  doing  anything  else  for 
the  country,  since  on  the  2d  of  April  Major-General  J.  H. 
AVilson  carried  the  works  by  assault  around  Selma,  after  a 
short  but  severe  contest  with  Qeneral  Forrest.  This  was  a 
dreadful  blow  to  the  country,  and  thenceforth  all  was  dark 
and  gloomy,  and  one  disaster  after  another  befell  the  Con- 
federacy until  the  final  consummation,  w4iich  was  reached 
by  the  suiTender  of  Lee  to  Grant  at  A^^pomattox,  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  of  Johnston  to  Sherman  in  North  Carolina  in 
April,  1865.  My  occupation  being  now  gone,  there  was 
nothing  left  for  me  save  to  make  my  way  to  Mississippi, 
join  my  children,  and  provide  ways  and  means  whereby  we 
could  all  begin  life  anew,  and  place  ourselves  as  nearly  as 
we  could  in  static  quo  ante-bellum.  Having  decided  to  give 
up  the  prosecution  of  my  agency,  I  du-ected  my  first  efforts 
to  visiting  Gainesville,  Ala.,  where  two  prominent  members 
of  the  Synodical  Committee  resided — Rev.  Dr.  Charles  A. 
Stillman  and  Jonathan  Bliss,  Esq.,  an  elder  of  the  church. 
As  I  recall  the  time  to  which  I  here  refer,  when  I  took  my 


Death  of  Eev.  A.  M.  Small.  431 

leave  of  that  part  of  Alabama,  aud  especially  of  the  town 
of  Selma,  where  I  passed  so  large  a  part  of  my  time  with 
such  congenial  society,  and  so  much  enjoyment  of  genuine 
hospitality  on  the  part  of  its  excellent  people,  there  rises  up 
the  image  and  memory  of  that  devoted  Christian  pastor, 
Kev.  A.  M.  Small.  I  regarded  him  then  as  one  of  the  love- 
liest characters  with  whom  I  had  ever  associatad.  His 
^'odly  life,  his  fidelity  as  the  pastor  of  an  important  and  in- 
fluential people,  his  patriotic  devotion  to  the  cause  of  his 
native  South,  his  large  and  ever- widening  hospitality;  and 
all  this  orignating  from  an  equally  large  and  boundless  gen- 
erosity of  heart,  so  endeared  him  to  every  one  who  knew 
him,  that  the  mention  of  his  very  name  was  the  signal  of 
praise  and  admiration. 

The  particular  exciting  circumstance  that  gives  ground 
for  my  notice  of  this  beloved  man  is  that  he  was  one  among 
the  numerous  ^dctims  of  this  cruel  and  relentless  war,  that 
had  no  respect  for  persons.  At  the  time  of  the  assault  upon 
the  defences  of  Selma  he  was  behind  the  breast-works 
among  the  citizens,  and  when  the  city  fell  he  was  among 
those  who  fell.  Thus  ended  the  career  of  one  w^ho  was  in  the 
prime  of  his  young  manhood  and  the  bright  field  of  his  use- 
fulness, growing  in  every  great  element  of  mental,  moral, 
and  spiritual  power,  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him,  and  be- 
wailed by  every  high-toned  heart. 

I  return  from  this  digression  to  record  other  matters  of 
more  general  interest,  but  which  all  jDartook  of  the  gloomy 
character  and  coloring  that  cast  their  dark  shadowing  over 
the  entii'e  South.  In  fact,  I  do  not  consider  it  out  of  j)lace 
to  record  that  this  gloomy  aspect  of  j)ublic  affairs  had  begun 
to  pervade  the  Confederacy  for  some  time  previous  to  this 
epoch,  and  there  was  everywhere  apparent  a  despondency 
that  could  not  be  concealed;  and  although  there  was  an 
earnest  effort  on  the  jDart  of  the  public  journals  to  light  up 
.hope  on  all  possible  occasions,  yet  these  efforts  were  less 


432  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D  ,  LL.  D. 

and  less  iufruential  in  the  ininds  of  the  people,  and  the  con- 
clusion was  finally  reached  that  all  was  hopeless,  and  this 
■was  followed  by  the  reality  that  "  all  was  lost." 

The  attempt  to  record,  in  a  brief  space,  the  actual  condi- 
tion of  things  at  this  juncture  in  our  history  would  be  an 
utterly  impossible  task  for  any  one,  and  flie  effort  to  make 
such  a  record  would  be  vain  and  futile  with  the  material  at 
command.  Let  it  be  sufficient  to  say  that,  with  few'  ex- 
ceptions, in  cases  where  the  farmers  were  remote  from  the 
seat  of  war,  and  secure  from  raids,  or  where  enterprising- 
commercial  men  had  been  successful  in  running  the  block- 
ade, and  thus  carrying  out  cotton  and  bringing  in  gold  and 
greenbacks  and  pro\'isions,  the  country  was  without  a  cur- 
rency, and,  in  many  places,  without  means  of  living.  The 
order  of  the  Confederate  government,  that  cotton  in  regions 
exposed  to  raids  (and  there  were  very  few  places  of  that 
kind)  should  be  burned,  in  order  to  prevent  the  enemy  from 
seizing  it,  operated  disadvantageously  to  those  wdio  obeyed 
the  order,  and  opened  the  way  for  others  to  disreputable, 
and,  one  might  say,  dishonest  dealings.  As  an  illustration : 
Sometimes,  in  the  interior,  there  might  be  found  a  large 
crop  of  cotton,  packed  and  prepared  for  market,  and  an 
armed  body  of  men,  who  w^ere  charged  with  the  business  of 
burning  cotton  by  the  government,  destroyed  this  crop,  as 
the  owner  was  law^-abiding ;  while,  at  the  same  time,  in  the 
same  section  of  the  country,  a  farmer  who  had  a  crop  in  the 
same  condition  might  meet  the  band  of  burners,  and,  by 
offering  them  some  amount  of  money  as  a  bribe,  succeed  in 
preserving  his  cotton,  and  thus  have  the  opportunity  of  ob- 
taining a  very  high  price  for  it,  not  in  Confederate  cur- 
rencj^  but  in  "  greenbacks,"  as  it  was  styled,  dealing  with 
camp-followers  of  the  Federal  army.  But  the  large  mass  of 
the  Southern  people  were  left  by  the  war  in  utter  destitu- 
tion. The  slaves  were  freed  by  the  emancipation  act,  and 
the  consequent  w^ant  of  laborers  rendered  the  rich  lands  of 
no  present  value. 


CHAPTER   XLII. 

Incidents  of  Peesonal  Histoey. — Release  feom  all  Official  Duties 
Geowing  Out  of  the  Wae.  — Visits  to  Old  Homes. 

VHEN  I  clecicled  to  abandon  the  agency  in  which  I  had 
been  employed  during  three  or  foiu'  months,  for  the 
very  sufficient  reason  that  nothing  could  then  be  accom- 
plished, in  consequence  of  the  fact  that  the  country  from 
■which  the  contributions  were  to  be  drawn  was  entirely  over- 
run by  a  hostile  body  of  troops,  I  tm-ned  my  course  to  the 
State  of  Mississippi,  my  purpose  being  to  retrace  my  jour- 
neyings  to  my  former  home.  In  doing  this  I  made  it  my 
first  object  to  %dsit  Gainesville,  Ala.,  and  wind  up  in  due  form 
with  the  committee  of  the  Synod  the  entire  business  of  the 
orphan  asylum,  in  so  far  as  I  was  concerned.  I  found  it  by 
no  means  an  easy  matter  to  obtain  necessary  transportation, 
as  there  was  no  public  way  of  travel  then  in  operation.  But 
in  this  state  of  matters,  as  I  had  always  had  the  experience  of 
a  kind  overuling  Pro\ddence  in  every  time  of  need,  so  now  I 
met  with  great  kindness  at  the  hands  of  friends,  by  whose 
aid  I  was  enabled  to  go  from  point  to  point  of  my  route  in 
comfort  and  safety  to  my  destination. 

From  Marion  to  Greensboro,  by  the  kindness  of  Mr, 
AVhitsett,  an  elder  of  Dr.  Raymond's  church,  I  was  sent 
comfortably  in  a  buggy,  driven  by  his  servant.  There  I  was 
met  by  Rev.  J.  M.  P.  Otts,  D.  D.,  who  took  care  of  me  hos- 
pitably in  the  family  of  Mr.  McCrary,  his  father-in-law.  I 
spent  the  Sabbath  in  Greensboro,  and  preached  to  a  mere 
handful  of  frightened  ladies,  the  news  from  Selma  being 
alarming,  and  straggling  cavalrymen  from  Forrest's  brigade 
passing  west  singly  and   in  small  squads    day  and  night. 

433 


434  John  N.  ^^addel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

From  Greensboro,  I  j)assed  on  Moncla}'  to  the  west  side  of 
the  river  "Warrior,  by  means  of  a  wagon,  in  which  were  stored 
away  valuable  articles  belonging  to  Mrs.  McCrary,  and 
which  w^ere  to  be  convej^ed  to  a  friend  for  safe-keeping.  At 
the  house  of  this  friend  (a  Mr.  Gully)  I  spent  the  night  com- 
fortably, and  on  the  next  morning  I  rode  over  to  the  house 
of  a  former  friend,  Captain  Nott,  who  resided  near  Mr. 
Gully,  in  that  part  of  Greene  county  known  as  "  the  Fork," 
i.  e.,  the  territory  l3'ing  between  the  Warrior  and  Tombigby 
rivers.  Thence  procuring  a  horse,  after  a  brief  delay,  I  rode 
on,  crossing  the  Tombigbee  river  at  Jones'  Bluff,  where  I 
found  a  large  party  of  refugees  (making  their  escape  from  a 
reported  raid  from  above),  and  so  on  the  w^est  side  of  the 
river  I  made  my  way  to  Gainesville,  and  there  I  was  met 
with  great  kindness  and  entertained  with  great  hospitality  by 
my  friend  and  brother,  Eev.  C.  A.  StiUman,  D.  D.,  and  made 
his  house  my  home  for  a  week  or  ten  days.  During  my 
abode  in  this  place  I  made  a  formal  report  of  my  agency  to 
Dr.  Stillman  and  Mr.  Bliss,  the  two  committeemen.  Hav- 
ing made  a  full  and  accurate  statement  of  all  moneys  re- 
ceived, and  all  subscriptions  made,  and  all  my  expenses,  to- 
gether with  all  other  disbursements,  I  deposited  with  these 
gentlemen  my  book  of  accounts  and  the  cash  in  hand,  which 
last  amounted  to  the  (apparently)  large  sum  of  ten  thousand 
dollars !  But  alas  !  it  consisted  solely  of  Confederate  dol- 
lars. 

In  Gainesville  I  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  the  family 
of  Colonel  James  Brown,  Avho  had  taken  refuge  in  this 
p)lace  from  their  home  in  Oxford,  Miss.  Colonel  Brown  had 
been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  University 
of  Mississippi,  and  therefore  we  had  been  associated  to- 
gether there,  and  always  had  been  warm  friends.  I  was 
much  gratified  to  meet  him  and  his  warm-hearted  family, 
after  a  long  period  of  separation ;  under  the  circumstances 
it  was  a  sort  of  green  and  cheering  spot  amid  the  desert  of 


Condition  at  Close  of  the  Wak.  435 

our  environments.  After  preaching  in  Gainesville  once,  and 
finding  that  the  surrender  of  the  Confederacy  was  a  fact  be- 
yond all  question,  I  left  that  place  and  made  my  way  to 
Meridian  by  a  branch  road  to  Gainesville  Junction,  and 
thence  down  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  raih-oad. 

I  have  to  record,  with  regard  to  the  period  that  elapsed 
from  the  reported  surrender,  on  the  9th  of  April  (about 
which  time  I  left  Gainesville),  to  the  middle  of  the  ensuing 
summer  of  1865,  that  my  financial  interests  wero  character- 
ized by  the  most  complete  condition  of  impecuniosity  con- 
ceivable. All  along  through  the  dreary  years  of  the  pro- 
tracted war,  I  had  never  known  anything  liko  scarcit}^  or 
the  want  of  a  dollar  at  any  time,  having  such  funds  always 
in  hand  as  carried  me  and  mine  safely  and  satisfactorily 
through.  But  when  I  left  Gaines\dlle,  about  the  middle  of 
April,  I  remember  well  that  I  had  in  my  purse  $800  nomi- 
nally, which  was  mere  worthless  paper.  Then  if  any  one 
had  been  so  idiotic  as  to  steal  my  purse,  it  would  have  been 
found  literally  true  that  he  had  stolen  trash  !  As  my  ulti- 
mate destination  would  most  naturalh'  be  La  Grange,  Tenn., 
whence  my  highly  eccentric  travels  had  begun  on  December 
17,  18G2,  and  as  I  had  niatters  of  private  and  family  concern 
to  look  after  at  various  points  in  the  central  and  northern 
parts  of  Mississippi,  I  was  detained  in  the  needed  attention 
to  these  things,  so  that  I  did  not  &s':iY^  reach  La  Grange  on 
a  brief  visit  until  about  the  1st  of  July ;  but  that  was  suffi- 
cient to  fill  me  Avith  sadness,  when,  with  a  single  glance,  I 
beheld  around  me  the  desolations  wrouoht  by  the  ruthless 
hand  of  war.  There  lay  in  the  dust  the  remnants  of  the 
once  massive  walls  of  the  college  building,  its  brick  used  by 
the  ruthless  soldiery  for  huts  and  chimneys  during  their 
occupation  of  the  ill-fated  town,  and  the  apparatus  and  in- 
struments of  illustration  of  scientific  truth,  and  its  libraries, 
in  their  idiomatic  phrase,  "  confiscated,"  or  destroyed  and 
stolen,  and  the  once  promising  institution,  now  without  "  a 


43G  John  N.  Waddell,  D.  D.  LL.  D. 

local  habitation  or  a  name,"  vanished  and  buried  "  among 
the  things  that  were  !  " 

My  time  was  passed  partly  in  paying  closing  visits  of 
brief  duration  to  the  places  where  I  had  made  my  war- 
homes  ;  and  among  these,  not  one  in  this  way  attracted  my 
presence  more  strongly,  by  the  many  and  pleasant  seasons 
of  enjoyment  afforded  me  during  the  toilsome  season  and 
sad  scenes  of  the  war,  than  the  home  of  my  long-tried 
friend,  Mrs.  Evans,  of  Newton  county,  Miss.  She  was  a 
sister  of  Rev.  Bichmond  Mclnnis,  so  long  an  evangelist  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Central  Mississippi  and  editor  of  a 
Presbyterian  journal  pubhshed  in  New  Orleans,  just  at 
the  opening  of  the  war,  who  had  also  conducted  a  similar 
journal  pre^•iously  in  Jackson,  Miss.  I  had  been  the 
pastor  of  Mrs.  Evans  from  1842  to  1848,  at  Mt.  Moriah 
church,  when  I  resided  at  Montrose  church  in  Jasper 
county,  Miss.  It  had  always  been  one  of  my  favorite  re- 
sorts during  the  time  of  peace,  before  the  days  of  war,  and 
it  was  one  of  my  many  pleasant  places  of  rest  and  refuge 
during  my  wandering  life  of  toil  and  sadness,  while  hostili- 
ties were  in  progress.  I  also  paid  similar  visits  to  Jackson, 
Miss.,  and  it  was  on  occasion  of  one  of  those  visits  that  the 
exciting  intelligence  came  to  us  of  the  assassination  of 
President  Lincoln,  and  this  only  increased  the  wild  confu- 
sion and  manifold  gloomy  forebodings  of  the  community. 
My  principal  place  of  temporary  sojourn,  however,  was  Kos- 
ciusko, wiiere  my  daughters  were  engaged  in  teaching.  I 
had  heard  nothing  from  my  son  George  since  he  had  left 
Montgomery  to  join  General  Johnston's  command  in  North 
Carolina,  which  was  at  the  time  when  the  Southern  army 
was  making  its  last  forlorn  stand  against  Sherman,  after 
his  "march  to  the  sea"  and  "the  burning  of  Columbia, 
S.  C."  I  knew  that  the  fighting  W'as  over,  and  naturally,  I 
supposed  that  George  and  Mr.  Thompson  would  be  return- 
ing home,  if  alive,  of  which  last  contingency  I  was  utterly 


Condition  at  Close  of  the  War.  437 

in  the  dark.  It  occurred  to  me  to  dispatch  to  my  brother, 
iu  Montgomery,  for  any  information  he  might  have  on  the 
subject.  Bat  as  I  was  penniless,  I  knew  I  could  not  pay 
for  a  telegram.  As  a  dernier  resort,  I  laid  the  case  before 
the  operator  at  one  of  the  stations,  by  name  Monroe,  and  as 
he  had  married  the  daughter  of  a  friend  of  mine,  he  was 
kind  enough  to  allow  me  to  forward  the  dispatch.  I,  how- 
ever, received  no  tidings  in  response,  and  my  message,  I 
imagine,  never  was  received  by  my  brother. 

I  will  record  another  similar  favor  received  by  me  in  my 
destitution,  and  I  mention  such  incidents,  which,  under 
other  circumstances,  might  savor  of  indelicacy,  in  order  to 
illustrate  the  providential  kindness  of  God  in  never  lea\dng 
me  without  His  favor  in  time  of  need,  but  in  raising  up 
friends  for  me  always  in  my  extremities.  I  had  no  way  of 
travel  save  by  rail,  and  wished  to  visit  Oxford,  Miss.  I  had 
an  acquaintance  who  was  ticket  agent  on  the  railroad  be- 
tween Meridian  and  Jackson  (the  son  of  my  old  friend. 
Judge  Watts,  of  East  Mississippi),  and,  applying  to  him  for 
a  ticket,  on  the  faith  of  future  payment,  he  also  gave  me 
credit  for  the  amount.  I  add  that,  in  addition  to  the  ex- 
pression of  my  heartfelt  thanks  to  both  of  these  gentlemen, 
I  promptly,  and  not  long  after,  remitted  to  them,  severally, 
the  amount  due  for  the  message  and  the  ticket.  Being  still 
in  a  state  of  great  anxiety  about  George,  I  borrowed  a  horse 
and  rode  up  to  Kosciusko,  just  before  or  about  the  time  of 
my  intended  trip  to  Oxford.  As  I  passed  into  the  town,  I 
was  recognized  by  a  lady  of  my  acquaintance,  who,  during 
the  war,  had  been  a  refugee  from  Memphis,  and  who  had 
just  returned,  after  a  business  trip,  to  Kosciusko.  From  her 
I  learned  that  she  had  met  George  in  Memphis,  on  his  re- 
turn from  the  army,  in  perfect  safety.  One  may  conceive, 
but  I  cannot  adequately  express  in  words,  the  joyful  emo- 
tions of  my  heart  at  this  news,  and  my  gratitude  to  my 
heavenly  Father  for  his  unceasing  loving  kindness  to  me. 


438  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

As  I  sat  at  dinner  wdth  Brother  Alexander  on  that  very  day, 
SL  servant  called  to  me,  sajdng  that  "a  young  man  at  the 
door  wished  to  see  me,"  and  behold,  there  was  the  dear 
boy  himself  in  very  deed  !  Having  ascertained  in  Memphis 
from  Dr.  Gray's  family,  as  he  there  had  taken  np  his  abode, 
that  his  sisters  were  in  Kosciusko,  he  had  taken  the  train, 
and  come  down  to  find  them.  There  was  joy  in  that  house,. 
it  may  easily  be  imagined.  The  evening  was  spent  in  free 
and  varied  interchange  of  narratives,  of  incidents,  and  ad- 
ventures occurring  during  our  separation,  and  we  all  felt 
once  more  comparatively  happy.  There  was  still  naturally 
in  all  our  hearts  a  feeling  of  subdued  sadness,  as  we  recog- 
nized one  vacancy  in  our  once  happy  circle,  broken  now,  and 
no  more  to  be  restored  on  earth.  Not  long  after  this,  every- 
thing of  that  state  of  our  affairs  was  radically  and  j^erma- 
nently  reorganized.  Mr.  C.  V.  Thompson  had  returned 
from  the  arm}^  and  removed  my  youngest  daughter  from 
Kosciusko  to  his  father's  house,  in  Fayette  county,  Tenn. 
The  fact  of  his  marriage  is  recorded  on  page  417  of  this 
memoir.  James  D.  West,  who  had  been  captured  near  Ma- 
rietta, Ga.,  in  18G4,  after  an  imprisonment  on  Johnson's 
Island  of  more  than  one  j'ear,  returned  later  than  the  date 
of  these  just  now  mentioned  facts,  and,  stopj)ing  in  Kosci- 
usko, took  part  in  the  school  until  the  close  of  the  session, 
and  then  removed  his  position  to  my  former  field  of  labor, 
in  Jasper  county,  and  took  charge  of  my  old  churches  of 
Montrose  and  Mt.  Moriah,  making  his  home  with  my  friend 
Mrs.  Evans.  I  then,  with  George,  made  a  journey  to  Ox- 
ford first.  While  there  in  Oxford,  at  the  home  of  my  excel- 
lent friends^  H.  E.  Eascoe  and  Mrs.  J.  E.  Rascoe,  the  noble 
daughter  of  the  first  friend  I  ever  made  in  Oxford,  in  1847, 
Dr.  Z.  Conkey,  I  met  with  a  still  more  remarkable  instance 
of  generous  kindness  at  the  hands  of  Mrs.  Eascoe.  At  her 
request,  I  succeeded  in  having,  at  some  store  in  the  j)lace,  a 
fifty-dollar  bill  of  greenback  currency  exchanged  for  two 


Travelling  Under  Difficulties.  439 

ticenties  and  a  ten.  Ou  returning  the  money  to  her,  she 
placed  one  of  the  twenty-dollar  bills  in  my  hands  as  a  gift ; 
so  that  I  might  say  gratefully,  adopting  the  language  of  the 
Psalmist,  with  my  whole  heart,  "  Surely  goodness  and 
mercy  shall  follow  me  all  the  days  of  my  life,"  judging  by 
my  past  experience,  and  especially  during  these  latter  days 
of  gloom  and  privation.  Surely  no  one  had  ever  greater 
reason  than  I  to  acknowledge  the  remarkably  kind  and 
abundant  supply  of  noble  and  thoughtful  fi'iends,  into  whose 
hearts  He  had  sent  the  impulses  of  such  generosity  as  has 
been  manifested  toward  me. 

I  had  owned  a  small  farm  at  La  Grange,  and  my  servants 
had  been  cultivating  it  during  my  exile,  and  as  there  was 
no  railway  in  operation  toward  La  Grange  beyond  Holly 
Springs,  I  conveyed  a  message  by  some  sure  method  to  one 
of  the  colored  men  w^ho  had  been  left  on  the  premises,  to 
the  effect  that  I  desired  him  to  send  a  conveyance  down 
from  La  Grange  to  meet  George  and  myself  at  Holly 
Springs,  and  carry  us  to  our  old  home,  designating  the  day 
when  we  should  probably  reach  Holly  Springs. 

I  must  be  indulged  in  an  attempt  to  describe  our  mode  of 
transportation  from  Oxford  to  Holly  Springs,  as  it  will  give 
the  reader  some  conception  of  the  utter  demolition  of  every- 
thing like  the  facilities  and  conveniences  of  passage  and  lo- 
comotion that  had  resulted  from  the  war,  and  which  before 
the  war  had  been  in  successful  operation  in  that  region  of 
the  country.  The  distance  between  the  towns  of  Oxford 
and  Holly  Springs  is  thu'ty  miles  by  rail.  Over  the  first 
thirteen  miles  we  rode  on  a  flat  car,  quite  a  company  of  us 
together,  drawn  by  a  very  small  engine.  This  placed  us  on 
the  south  bank  of  the  Tallahatchee  river.  There  we  were 
reduced  to  locomotion  on  our  feet,  crossing  on  a  flat  ferry- 
boat, as  the  railroad  bridge  had  been  destroyed,  and  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river  we  found  the  track  again  with  a  flat- 
car  standing  waiting  for  us,  drawn  by  a  single  mule !     On 


440  John  N.  AYaddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

this,  at  the  rate  of  five  miles  per  hour,  we  performed  the  re- 
mainder of  the  trip,  reaching  Holly  Springs  about  2  o'clock 
T.  M.,  having  been  on  the  way  some  six  hours,  a  space  ordi- 
narily requiring  but  little  more  than  one  by  steam.  "We 
arrived  there  in  safety  after  all  our  difficulties,  which  really 
afforded  us  more  amusement  than  inconvenience. 

This  visit  paid  to  La  Grange  found  us  in  Dr.  Gray's 
family  once  more,  after  an  absence  of  two  years  and  a  half. 
The  interval  from  our  arrival  there  until  my  settlement  in 
Oxford  is  of  sufficient  interest  to  admit  of  its  being  recorded 
in  a  separate  chapter. 


CHAPTER  XLIIL 

"Private  Histokt. — ATTENDA^x•E  at  the  Meeting  of  the  Presbyter-s 
OP  Memphis.  —  Meeting  at  Holly  Springs. — Bexurn  to  Oxford, 
AND  Settlement  There. 

I  HAVE  recorded  something  already  in  reference  to  my 
financial  deficiencies,  and  as  to  the  manner  of  their  alle- 
viation. But  I  must  trespass  somewhat  upon  the  patience 
of  my  reader  by  some  further  incidents,  which,  however 
trivial  they  may  seem  at  this  distant  day  of  peace  and  pros- 
perity, loomed  up  largely  to  me  just  in  that  day  of  poverty 
and  depression.  As  I  was  in  need  of  some  articles  of  com- 
iort,  and  as  George  had  returned  in  a  somewhat  dilapidated 
condition  in  respect  of  raiment,  I  applied  to  my  brother-in- 
law,  Dr.  Gray,  for  information  as  to  some  source  whence  I 
could  effect  a  loan  of  needed  funds.  He  promptly  assured 
me  that  it  could  be  easily  effected  in  this  way :  Said  he,  I 
have  in  my  care  for  safekeeping  the  sum  of  six  hnndi'ed 
dollars,  belonging  to  your  servant  Wash,  being  money 
^hich  he  has  made  by  cultivating  your  farm  in  cotton,  and 
selling  it  to  the  Federals  at  high  prices  during  your  ab- 
sence, and  I  know  that  you  can  borrow  of  him  whatever 
you  desire.  Accordingly,  on  application  to  the  man,  he 
readily  placed  in  my  possession  $100,  which  I  proposed,  of 
course,  to  repay  at  the  earhest  possible  period. 

The  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Memphis,  of  which  I 
^as  a  member,  occurring  about  the  25th  of  August,  Dr. 
Gray  and  I  rode  to  Dance^wille,  the  place  of  meeting,  where 
I  met  many  of  our  brethren,  and  among  them,  Eev.  Philip 
"Thompson,  an  old  friend,  who  was  supplying  some  country 
ohurches  in  that  region.     We    met,  and  among   the  first 

441 


442  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

tilings  he  said,  was  thai,  lie  had  a  message  for  me,  and  tak- 
ing me  aside,  to  my  great  surprise  he  handed  me  one  hun- 
dred dollars  in  gold !  The  explanation  of  this  transaction 
■was  this:  It  may  be  remembered  that  a  body  of  earnest 
and  devoted  friends  of  the  college  at  La  Grange  had  en- 
tered into  an  obligation  to  pay  the  sum  of  two  thousand 
dollars  as  a  salary  for  me,  to  induce  me  to  accept  the  profes- 
sorship to  which  I  had  been  elected  by  the  Synod  in  1856. 
Of  this  number  Dr.  Macklin  was  one,  and  each  of  them 
thus  combined,  voluntarily  agreed  to  insure  me  this  salary 
for  five  years.  The  contract  was  honorably  fulfilled  as  long 
as  I  was  permitted  to  serve,  but  my  subsequent  departure, 
on  compulsion  in  1862  from  La  Grange,  brought  the  matter 
to  an  end.  In  the  interim,  during  the  progress  of  the  war, 
Dr.  Macklin  had  died,  and  although  I  had  considered  that 
this  arrangement  was  void,  and  had  not  expected  such  a 
payment  for  a  moment,  or  had  even  thought  at  all  on  the 
subject,  yet,  as  Mr.  Thompson  informed  me  in  our  inter- 
view, Dr.  MackHn  had  left  with  Mrs.  M.,  on  his  dying  bed, 
the  solemn  injunction  to  pay  to  me  this  amount,  which  was 
due  by  him  as  his  part  of  the  pledged  salary,  and  w^hich 
would  have  been  paid  me,  had  an  opportunity  occurred,  be- 
fore I  left.  This  was  the  fulfillment  of  Mrs.  M.'s  commis- 
sion, according  to  her  husband's  last  request.  The  transac- 
tion was  as  imexpected  as  it  was  welcome,  and  gratefully 
received.  To  make  an  end  of  my  gradual  recuperation,  two 
more  items  remain  to  be  added  to  this  list  of  good  things 
just  then  occurring.  Returning  to  La  Grange  I  met  with  a 
gentleman  who  was  indebted  to  me  for  a  small  sum  of  money 
for  servant  hire  before  tlie  war,  amounting  to  some  sixty 
dollars  or  more,  who  honorably  discharged  the  debt,  and 
then  visiting  Memphis,  I  exchanged  my  gold  for  currency 
at  the  market  premium.  These  operations  which  I  here  re- 
cord in  fiscal  affairs  were  not  the  result  of  any  financial  skill 
on  my  part  (to  the  possession  of  which  quality  I  could  not 


Payment  of  Old  Debts.  MS" 

lay  tlie  slightest  claim),  but  simply  as  the  regular  process 
of  a  kind  Provideuce  in  caring  for  me.  I  realized  then  a 
feeling  of  safety  and  comparative  independence,  to  which  I 
had  been  a  stranger  since  the  fall  of  the  Southern  Con- 
federacy. 

On  my  arrival  in  La  Grange,  after  my  visit  to  Memphis, 
I  sent  for  AVash,  my  colored  man,  from  whom  I  had  re- 
ceived $100,  and  informed  him  that  I  was  now  ready  to  re- 
turn the  amount  I  had  received  from  him  a  few  days  pre- 
viously. To  my  great  surprise,  he  utterly  declined  to  re- 
ceive one  cent  of  it.  He  reasoned  the  case  out  thus:  "I 
made  that  money  out  of  your  farm,  I  occupied  your  houses 
with  my  family,  and  cultivated  the  land  with  your  mules. 
You  were  always  a  kind  master;  the  money  is  yom's."  In 
thinking  over  this  incident  afterwards,  two  reliections  oc- 
curred to  me  growing  out  of  the  conduct  of  this  man:  1. 
That  our  Northern  fellow-citizens  would  have  been  surprised 
at  the  transaction  had  they  known  the  circumstances ;  2. 
This  colored  man,  in  his  sense  of  honor,  would  have  j)ut  to 
shame  many  a  white  man  of  high  standing  in  society.  I 
enjoined  upon  him,  when  he  left,  that  if  he  should  ever,  at 
any  time,  become  involved  in  difficulties  in  his  business  of 
farming,  to  inform  me  of  it ;  and  I  am  thankful  that  I  had 
afterwards  an  opportunity  to  redeem  my  promise  by  re- 
sponding to  an  application  which  he  made  to  me  for  aid  in 
his  embarrassments  in  farming.  Before  my  final  settlement 
in  Oxford,  I  spent  a  great  deal  of  the  time  in  visiting  in  the 
region  above  and  below  that  place,  and  preaching  in  Gre- 
nada, Water  Valley,  La  Grange,  Holly  Springs,  (assistmg 
in  the  latter  place  at  a  protracted  meeting  for  nine  days,) 
and  at  Danceyville  (at  Presbj-tery),  at  Somerville,  Tenn., 
and  at  Hickory  ^Vithe.  Alter  these  pleasant  labors,  spent 
with  friends  and  with  churches  in  whose  pulpits  I  had 
preached  many  times  previous  to  the  war,  I  at  last  once 
more  found  a  delightful  home  in  Oxford,  Miss.     There  I  re- 


444  John  L.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL  D. 

newed  iny  labors  as  a  member  of  the  Faculty  of  the  Uni- 
Yersity  for  nine  busy  and  toilsome  years  of  rarely  varied  ex- 
perience, during  the  period  kno^vTi  in  the  history  of  the 
times  as  the  Beconstruction,  and,  in  political  parlance,  as 
the  *•  carpet-bag  government  of  the  Southern  States.'* 


CHAPTEE  XLIY. 

GOVEENOE    ShAEKEY's    TeKM    OP     SeKVICE.  — OxFOED   AS   My    HoME. 

Election  to  the  Chancelloeship  of  the  TJni^'eesity. — ]\Iae- 
EiAGE. — Caee  of  the  Oxfoed  Chuech. — Addeess  Befoee  the 
Legislatuee. 

I  WAS  now  a  widower,  with  only  one  member  of  my  once 
large  and  liajDi^y  family  present  with  me.  Out  of  eight 
children,  there  remained  now  only  three  living,  four  having 
died  in  infancy,  and  one  having  fallen  in  the  military  ser\ice 
of  his  countiy;  one  soldier  boy  having  returned  from  the 
war,  and  my  two  daughters  having  left  my  care  to  preside 
over  other  homes  of  their  own,  and  render  other  circles  as 
happy  as  that  in  which  they  once  moved.  I  found  a  tempo- 
rary abode  with  my  friends,  the  dear  Rascoe  family,  where 
I  was  made  as  happy  and  welcome  as  one  could  be  in  so 
bereaved  circumstances.  George,  my  only  surviving  son, 
spent  a  few  weeks  among  his  friends  in  Tennessee,  until  the 
time  should  arrive  for  him  to  join  me  in  Oxford. 

The  first  event  of  historical  interest  and  importance  to 
the  State  of  Mississippi  was  the  appointment,  by  the  Presi- 
dent (Andi-ew  Johnson)  of  the  United  States,  of  that  truly 
great  and  noble  jurist  and  statesman,  Hon.  William  L. 
Sharkey,  as  Provisional  Governor  of  the  State.  No  man 
of  all  those  whose  names  stood  prominent  and  eminent 
among  the  great  and  good  citizens  of  the  State  could,  by 
any  possibihty,  have  been  found  whose  appointment  would 
have  been  so  acceptable  and  universally  satisfactory  to  the 
people  of  Mississippi.  "We  felt  that  sm-ely  we  had  been  im- 
der  the  special  protection  of  a  divine  providence,  who  had 
put  it  in  the  heart  of  the  then  ruler  of  the  countiy  to  make 

445 


446  John  N.  Wadell,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

so  wise  and  accej^table  an  api^ointment.  His  aclministra' 
tion  in  other  and  more  general  departments  of  State  policy 
is  not  mine  to  dwell  uj)on,  but  must  be  assigned  to  others 
more  competent  to  do  him  the  justice  to  which  his  memory 
is  so  richly  entitled.  It  has  always  been,  in  my  judgment, 
among  the  many  acts  of  Governor  Sharkey's  official  service, 
that  one  which  merits  admiration  and  reflects  high  honor 
upon  this  noble  man,  that  among  his  first  executive  orders 
"was  a  call  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  University  to 
convene  at  Oxford,  and  reorganize  the  University,  whoso  ex- 
ercises had  been  suspended  during  four  years. 

As  the  Southern  States  were  all  in  what  may  be  con- 
sidered state  of  anarchy,  especially  in  the  view  of  the 
victorious  party,  the  same  measure  was  inaugurated  and 
adopted  in  reference  to  all  that  had  been  engaged  in  Avhat 
was  called  the  rebellion,  viz.,  Provisional  Governors  were 
appointed  for  every  Southern  State.  But  among  them  all, 
none  had  greater  reason  for  self-gratulation  than  the  State 
of  Mississippi.  A  very  serious  obstacle  in  the  way  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  to  the  execution  of  the  Governor's  in- 
structions in  reference  to  the  reorganization  of  the  Univer- 
sity met  them  at  the  outset,  which  was,  that  the  State  trea- 
sury was  empty.  In  order  to  remedy  this  condition  of 
things,  an  order  was  issued  from  headquarters  to  the  proper 
officers  in  the  various  counties,  to  collect  a  tax  of  two  dollars 
per  bale  on  aU  the  cotton  in  the  limits  of  the  State.  There 
^vas  a  large  quantity  of  this  staple  in  possession  of  the 
planters,  and  of  the  amount  thus  collected,  Governor  Shar- 
key had  the  sum  of  $6,000  set  apart  to  meet  the  necessities 
of  the  University.  Accordingly,  in  pursuance  of  the  Gov- 
ernor's order,  the  Board  met  in  Oxford  on  the  31st  of  Au- 
gust, and  j)roceeded  to  elect  a  Faculty,  and  provide  for  the 
re-opening  of  the  institution  at  the  earliest  practicable  date. 
The  names  of  all  the  members  of  the  Board  who  were  pres- 
ent and  participated  in  the  election  I  cannot  now  recall,  but 


Ee-opening  of  the  University.  447 

there  was  a  quorum  competent  to  transact  all  the  business 
to  which  their  attention  was  requii-ed.  The  result  of  the 
action  of  the  Board  was  as  follows : 

1.  They  elected  a  Faculty  of  only  four  members,  of  which 
for  Chancellor,  they  selected  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D. 

For  Professor  of  Mathematics,  General  Claudius  W. 
Sears,  M.  A. 

For  Professor  of  Greek,  Eev.  John  J.  "Wheat,  D.  D. 
For  Professor  of  Latin,  Alexander  J.  Quinche,  A.  M. 

2.  They  appropriated  the  salaries  and  perquisites  to  the 
Faculty  as  follows :  For  the  chancellor,  $2,000  and  a  resi- 
dence; for  each  professor,  $1,500  and  a  residence. 

While  this  amounted  to  $6,500,  and  exceeded  the  a^^pro- 
priation  from  the  State  treasury,  it  was  supposed  that  any 
possible  deficit  would  be  abundantly  supplemented  by  the 
j)roceeds  of  tuition  fees.  This  anticipation  was  more  than 
realized  subsequently. 

3.  They  directed  that  the  exercises  of  the  tJniversity 
should  be  regularly  resumed  on  the  1st  of  October,  1865, 
and  this,  accordingly,  w^as  successfully  done.  The  Trustees, 
as  stated,  felt  that  these  salaries  were  as  liberal  as,  under 
the  circumstances  surrounding  them,  they  could  venture  to 
appropriate  ;  and  this  was,  indeed,  a  very  much  better  pro- 
vision for  the  Faculty  than  was  expected.  But  on  the 
opening  of  the  University  in  October,  it  was  at  once  brought 
to  view  that  the  patronage  would  be  beyond  our  most  san- 
guine expectations  as  to  the  number  of  students,  as  the  im- 
poverished condition  of  the  country  was  such  as  to  justify 
the  anticipation  of  a  diminished  attendance  of  students 
comparatively.  On  the  other  hand,  as  it  became  apparent 
in  the  progress  of  affairs,  the  privation  of  all  educational 
facilities  to  which  the  young  men  had  been  subjected 
by  the  demands  of  the  country  for  soldiers  to  enter  the 
armies  of  defence,  had  been  felt  by  them  as  a  heavy  mis- 
fortune.    And  now,  Lhese  facilities  being  again  presented 


448  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

on  their  return,  tended  to  arouse  in  them  the  most  eager 
and  ardent  desire  and  thirst  for  education.  Four  long- 
weary  years  of  camp  life  and  war  experience  had  changed 
many  of  the  survivors  of  these  perils  from  thoughtless  and 
daring  boyhood  to  reflecting  and  serious  manhood,  and  the 
participation  in  the  pursuits  of  war,  in  which  they  had  been 
engaged,  had  only  prepared  them  for  a  higher  and  keener 
appreciation  of  the  advantages  of  peace.  The  average  aga 
of  the  students  of  the  first  session  of  the  University  after 
the  war  was  above  that  which  is  found  among  a  similar 
number  in  ordinary  times.  This  is  easily  accounted  for 
when  it  is  known  that,  while  the  age  of  admission  in  1861 
was  sixteen,  and,  in  all  probability,  these  identical  students 
would  have  been  apx^licants  for  admission  at  that  time,  and 
of  that  age,  there  were  two  reasons  preventing  this.  The 
first  was  that  the  exercises  of  ths  University  were  sus- 
pended in  consenuence  of  the  existence  of  war.  The 
second  was  the  direct  result  of  the  first.  These  young- 
men,  by  a  large  majority,  who  would  have  been  admitted 
into  the  University  in  other  times,  volunteered  as  soldiers 
for  the  war.  The  natural  end  of  this  state  of  things  was  that, 
having  spent  in  camp  four  years,  they  were  candidates  for  the 
University  classes  at  the  age  of  twenty,  instead  of  sixteen. 
It  must  be  recorded  here  that  the  long  privation  they  had 
sulfered  gave  them  a  far  higher  appreciation  of  these  ad- 
vantages now  furnished  them,  and  stimulated  their  minds 
to  a  more  severe  application  to  study,  and  diminished  pro- 
portionally that  tendency  to  frivolity  and  idleness  so  gen- 
erally prevalent  among  college  students.  My  experience, 
therefore,  of  the  student-body  of  the  session  1865-'66,  was 
that  they  were  characterized  by  diligence,  devotion  and 
earnestness  in  stud}^  and  orderly,  gentlemanly,  and  excep- 
tional observance  of  rule.  That  they  were  not  advanced  in 
the  regular  curriculum  of  study  is  not  surprising  at  all,  as 
they  had  enjoyed  no  opportunity  for  preparation,  and  this 


Students  at  Eeokganization.  449 

part  of  our  work  must  needs  be  performed  by  the  members 
of  the  Faculty.  Indeed,  the  post-behum  work  of  the  Uni- 
versity seemed  more  hke  the  beginning  than  the  resump- 
tion of  suspended  exercises  of  the  University.  But  we 
gave  our  most  zealous  and  conscientious  thoughts  and  la- 
bors to  the  work  which  we  found  pressing  upon  us.  Very 
many  of  the  one  hundred  and  ninety-three  young  men  who 
made  their  appearance  on  our  campus  were  really  only  be- 
ginning the  rudiments  of  language  and  science,  and  it  was 
not  for  a  moment  to  be  conceived  that  we  were  to  put  our- 
selves upon  the  high  ground  of  advanced  professorships, 
and  dismiss  worthy  young  aspirants  after  knowledge  be- 
cause they  were  backward  and  ignorant.  We  felt  it  our 
duty  to  take  them  by  the  hand  and  raise  them  from  the 
lower  to  the  higher,  from  the  simpler  to  the  more  soHd  and 
advanced  departments  of  an  education.  In  passing,  I  stato 
that,  while  we  were  acting  thus  in  obedience  to  a  stern  de- 
mand of  the  most  imperious  obligation  of  duty,  there  were 
not  wanting  self-styled  educators  even  in  Mississippi,  who 
felt  called  upon  to  pubhsh  criticisms  upon  us  as  incompe- 
tent for  our  positions  as  at  the  head  of  the  highest  institu- 
tion of  learning  in  the  State,  betraying  our  trust  and  de- 
grading the  cause  of  the  higher  education.  "We  felt  con- 
scious, however,  that  we  were  willing  to  bear  the  charge 
thus  invidiously  brought  against  us,  as  we  were  abundantly 
sustained  by  the  public  sentiment  of  the  State,  as  well  as  by 
the  hapi)y  results  of  our  earnest  and  devoted  work  for  our 
students. 

The  most  advanced  class  formed  during  this  first  session 
was  the  Junior  Class,  and  v^as  composed  of  only  five  youngs 
men.  Our  Sophomore  Class,  however,  was  much  larger, 
consisting  of  forty-seven  in  regular  enrollment ;  the  rest  of 
the  students  were  at  various  stages  of  advancement.  Wa 
graduated  four  in  1867,  and  twenty-four  in  1868. 

Certain  facts  in  my  personal  history  demand  a  record  just 
29 


450  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

at  this  point,  as  they  are  insepai*able  from  any  proper  me- 
moir of  my  Hfe  and  labors  as  an  educator  and  as  a  minister 
of  the  gosi^el.  I  ysill  add,  that  if  I  \^•as  ever  enabled,  in  the 
providence  of  God,  to  exert  a  wholesome  influence  oyer 
others,  it  was  due,  in  great  measure,  to  these  two  facts. 

It  was  a  singular  fact  that  all  through  the  troublous  times 
of  the  war  the  subject  of  entermg  again  into  the  marriage 
relation  not  only  formed  no  part  of  my  thoughts,  but  was 
really  repugnant  to  my  feelingSo  The  idea  of  assuming  ad- 
ditional responsibilities  with  those  already  resting  upon  me 
always  seemed  to  me  prejDosterous.  My  daughters  were 
helpless  and  dependent  upon  me,  and  my  boys  in  the  army 
also  constituted  a  source  of  deep  and  abiding  anxiety.  Be- 
sides all  this,  I  had  no  home,  nor  any  place  where  to  receive 
a  wife.  In  this  state  of  mind  and  feeling  I  wore  my  life  on, 
lonely  and  sad,  until  peace  was  established.  Called  as  I 
was  to  the  chancellorship  of  the  University,  with  a  home 
and  the  means  of  support  for  a  family  furnished  to  me,  the 
memory  of  the  past  brought  to  me  the  home  joys  and  social 
comforts  I  once  enjoyed,  and  I  felt  that  I  should  be  unhappy 
and  the  position  I  held  would  be  incomplete  without  some 
one  to  share  it  with  me.  Just  as  alwaj'S  has  been  found  in 
my  experience,  a  kind  providence  in  this  case  also  brought 
to  me  the  very  one  who  was  to  fill  the  vacancy  and  to  restore 
the  long-lost  light  of  my  dwelling.  I  had  kno^\Ti  the  lady 
thus  suggested  to  me  before  leaving  La  Grange,  and  met 
her  in  Memphis  on  a  visit  paid  to  that  city  after  my  return. 
She  was  Mrs.  Harriet  A.  Snedecor  {7iee  Godden),  and  her 
home  was  in  Lexington,  Miss. ;  and,  without  further  details. 
Jet  it  suffice  to  record  that,  after  a  delay  of  five  months,  we 
were  united  in  marriage,  on  the  31st  of  January,  1866.  As 
I  look  back  through  the  quarter  century  which  has  elapsed 
from  that  time,  I  am  sure  that  our  union  has  been  replete 
with  every  blessing,  and  nothing  has  occurred  to  mar  my 
enjoyment,  so  far  as  she  was  concerned ;  and,  on  the  con- 


Call  of  Dr.  Witherspoon.  451 

traiy,  on  the  occurrence  of  those  inevitable  evils  to  which 
this  world  is  subject  and  man  is  heir  in  his  imperfect  state, 
she  has  always  proved  to  me  the  source  of  comfort  and  wise 
counsel,  and  has  shared  in  all  my  burdens  and  shed  hght 
on  my  pathway  in  my  darkest  days.  Thus,  by  God  s  pecu- 
liar favor  shown  to  me,  I  began  my  third  married  life  un- 
der very  bright  auspices.  My  son  George  I  now  entered  as 
a  student  in  the  Sophomore  Class,  and  Mrs.  Waddels  only 
child,  a  boy  of  ten  years,  was  placed  in  a  good  training 
school  in  Oxford.     More  of  this  again. 

About  the  time  of  the  opening  of  the  exercises  of  the  Uni- 
versity, in  1865,  Eev.  T.  Dwight  "Wither spoon,  who  had  been 
ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  Oxford  Presb}i;erian 
church  just  about  one  year  previous  to  the  war,  and  who 
had  served  the  church  with  great  acceptableness,  and  had 
inspired  the  entire  community  w^ith  lo'a  and  admiration,  re- 
turned to  his  home  and  to  his  church,  after  having  served  as 
chaplain  during  the  war.  His  return  was  hailed  with  de- 
light by  his  friends  and  by  all  the  citizens ;  but  the  condi- 
tion of  the  church  had  become  greatly  changed  in  numbers 
as  well  as  financial  ability  within  the  four  years  that  had 
elapsed  since  his  entrance  into  the  military  service.  I  mean 
to  have  it  understood  that  he  w'as  not  only  a  chaplain,  but 
had  previously  enlisted  as  a  private  in  a  company  that  was 
organized  in  Oxford,  called  the  "Lamar  Killes,"  under  the 
command  of  Captain  Green.  I  have  been  credibV  in- 
formed that  he  took  active  part  in  the  ranks,  and  fought  as 
a  soldier  in  the  many  battles  in  which  his  company  was  en- 
gaged. Like  all  the  survivors  of  these  perils  and  hardships, 
he  found  himself  in  veiy  reduced  pecuniary  circumstances. 
As  stated  above,  the  situation  as  to  the  church  was  not  much 
better.  By  one  cause  or  another  the  membership  of  the 
church  had  become  greatly  reduced  in  numbers,  as  w^hen 
investigation  was  made  it  was  ascertained  that  the  maxiraum 
did  not  exceed  forty  in  all.     Under  such  circumstances,  it 


4:52  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

became  necessary  for  the  pastor  and  the  members  of  the 
church  to  seek  a  dissolution  of  the  relation,  and  to  make 
other  arrangements,  though  with  the  greatest  reluctance  on 
both  sides. 

The  Second  Presbyterian  church  of  the  city  of  Memphis 
was  about  this  time  vacant.  During  the  time  of  the  occu- 
pation of  that  city  by  the  Federal  trooj)S  the  pulpit  was 
filled  by  Rev.  E.  C.  Grundy,  D.  T).,  who  had  been  pastor 
before  the  ATar,  and  who,  being  an  ardent  Union  man,  wa& 
permitted  to  serve  the  church,  or  that  portion  of  it  that  was 
left,  until  he  removed  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  died,  on 
the  4th  of  July,  1865.  Dr.  Gray  had  filled  the  same  pulpit 
toward  the  close  of  the  war,  but  had  returned  to  his  La 
Grange  home,  so  that  this  important  church  was  now  va- 
cant. In  a  correspondence  with  Henry  Wade,  Esq.,  an 
elder  of  that  church,  a  godly  and  prominent  citizen  of  Mem- 
phis, engaged  in  business  there,  I  stated  the  facts  of  the 
case  to  him  in  terms  so  favorable  to  Rev.  Mr.  Witherspoon 
that  they  invited  him  to  visit  them,  and  the  result  was  that 
he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Second  church  unani- 
mously, and  served  the  church  faithfully  and  successfully 
for  years,  and  was  induced  at  last  to  leave  Memphis  only  on 
account  of  failing  health,  which  required  a  residence  in  a 
more  congenial  climate  and  a  less  laborious  and  exacting 
work.  That  church  has  enjoj^ed  the  services  of  talented 
and  eloquent  pastors  since  Dr.  "Witherspoon's  term  of  ser- 
vice with  them  expired ;  but  I  do  not  hesitate  to  record  here 
that  no  one  of  them  all  has  ever  acquired  a  more  exalted  aj)- 
preciation  by  the  membership  of  that  church  of  his  labors 
in  the  ]oulpit,  in  his  pastoral  visitation  and  sympathetic 
ministrations,  in  their  joys  and  their  afflictions,  than  that 
felt  for  their  beloved  and  honored  pastor,  Eev.  T.  D.  With- 
erspoon.  I  claim  to  be  a  competent  witness  in  this  case,  as 
I  bore  to  him  the  relation  of  instructor  in  his  university 
course  at  Oxford.     He  was  not  only  a  favorite  pupil  with 


Ministerial  Work  at  Oxford.  453 

me,  but  this  "was  his  status  ^vith  all  his  professors  and  with 
all  his  companions.  A  more  lovely  character  I  have  never 
known.  He  was  graduated  from  the  University  with  the 
highest  honors  in  the  class  of  1856,  and  finished  his  theo- 
logical course  of  study  at  the  Columbia  Seminary,  in  1859. 
He  has  filled  the  pulpits  of  some  of  our  most  important  and 
X^rominent  churches,  and  always  with  the  greatest  accept- 
ableness  and  edification  of  the  people  of  God.  He  received 
the  honorary  degree  of  D.  D.  in  1868,  and  that  of  LL.  D.  in 
1884,  both  conferred  by  his  Alma  Mater,  the  University  of 
Mississippi. 

The  church  in  Oxford  being  now  vacant  by  the  removal 
of  the  pastor  to  Memphis,  the}-  asked  me  to  supply  them, 
which  I  did,  preaching  every  Sabbath,  conducting  weekly 
prayer-meetings,  and  teaching  a  Bible  class  on  every  Sab- 
bath morning ;  all  of  which  was  voluntary  on  my  part,  and 
in  addition  to  the  duties  of  the  office  of  Chancellor.  I  may 
say  here  that  this  double  work  I  performed,  seizing  the 
church  with  the  University  for  several  years,  until  the 
church  became  strong  enough  to  call  a  pastor,  after  which 
I  was  so  strongly  solicited  by  a  church  near  Oxford  (I  mean 
the  Hopewell  church),  to  which  I  had  ministered  before  the 
war,  to  give  them  lirst,  two  Sabbaths  of  each  month,  and 
afterwards  three,  that  I  consented,  and  in  this  way  my  time 
was  quite  fully  occupied. 

The  exercises  of  the  University  continued  to  go  on  dur- 
ing the  3^ear  18G5,  and  when  the  Trustees  saw  the  large 
number  of  students  with  which  the  session  opened,  they 
felt  justified  in  increasing  the  salaries  of  the  Faculty  to 
$2,500  for  the  Chancellor  and  $2,000  to  professors,  and  these 
have  been  the  salaries  since. 

Shortly  after  the  opening  of  the  University  in  October, 
1865,  the  Legislature  which  had  been  elected  on  the  2d  of 
October,  by  order  of  a  convention,  called  by  Provisional 
Governor  Wm.  L.  Sharkey,  met  on  the  16th  and  proceeded 


451  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

to  the  business  of  re-orgauizing  the  State  government,  with 
Benjamin  G.  Humphrej^s  as  Governor.  One  of  their  ear- 
liest acts,  in  j^oint  of  time,  was  the  issuance  of  a  jomt  invita- 
tion to  myself,  from  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives, to  deliver  an  address  on  "Public  Education."  This 
was  accordingly  accepted,  and  I  delivered  the  address  in 
the  Hall  of  Eeprcsentatives,  in  Jackson,  Miss.,  on  the  even- 
ing of  "Wednesday,  October  25,  1865.  My  address  was 
published  by  order  of  the  Legislature. 
An  outline  of  the  address  is  as  follows : 

1.  The  country  is  to  be  congratulated  upon  the  restora- 
tion of  peace,  though  still  left  amid  the  desolations  of  the 
war,  and  on  being  now  furnished  with  a  grand  opportunity 
for  the  untrammelled  restoration  and  renovation  of  aU  the 
great  interests  of  the  State. 

2.  Among  those  interests,  none  transcend  in  importance 
those  of  education. 

3.  The  establishment  of  a  thorough  system  of  pubHc 
schools,  and  this  S3"stem  combined  with  the  reorganization 
of  the  University  upon  an  enlarged  scheme,  will  complete 
the  circle  of  education,  as  concentric,  not  antagonistic,  but 
mutually  auxiliary,  and  free  to  the  culture  and  training  of 
all  Mississippians. 

4.  The  order,  discipline,  and  general  government  of  the 
institutions  of  the  State  for  literature  and  science  should  be 
parental  as  nearlj^  as  possible,  not  military,  the  object  and 
purpose  being  to  train  our  youth  to  be  citizens,  not  soldiers. 

5.  Military  academies  should  be  provided  for  training  sol- 
diers ;  literary  and  scientific  institutions  for  citizens. 

6.  The  Department  of  Preparatory  Education  demands 
ceaseless  and  wise  consideration,  in  order  that  our  j^outh 
may  reap  the  benefit  of  the  higher  learning  by  preliminary 
training. 

7.  Such  a  system,  well-matured  and  developed,  will  pre- 
clude the  necessity  of  our  patronizing  the  institutions  of 


Address  on  Public  Education.  455 

those  States  unfriendly  to  our  customs  and  interests,  to 
which  we  have  heretofore  been  tributary,  and  upon  which 
we  have  been  dependent. 

8.  The  man  who  devotes  his  time,  talents,  energies,  and 
prayers  to  this  grand  enterprise  of  public  education,  will 
reap  his  most  precious  and  enduring  reward  in  the  eleva- 
tion and  greatness  of  the  State,  and  when  his  career  is 
closed,  those  who  ask  for  his  memorial  may  well  be  pointed 
to  the  old  inscription,  ''  /Si  monumentum  qumris,  circum- 
spice." 


CHAPTEE   XLY. 

Advance  of  Univeesity  Woek.  — Additions  to  the  Facttltt.  — Annoy- 
ances Threatening  Distuebance. — Close  op  First  Session. — 
Sketches  op  Some  Pbofessoes.  — Changes  op  State  Govekniment. 
— Political  Teouble  in  Peospect. 

SUCH  ^vas  the  unex23ected  increase  of  students  that  the 
work  required  of  the  Faculty  then  elected  was  pros- 
pectively becoming*  burdensome.  There  was,  therefore, 
plainl}'  presented  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  the  necessity  of 
adding  to  the  teaching  force,  and  thus  of  dividing  the  labors 
of  the  Facult3\  So  they  proceeded  to  fill  the  chair  of 
Physics,  Astronomy  and  Civil  Engineering  by  the  appoint- 
ment of  General  Alexander  P.  Stewart,  who  declined  the 
<jall.  General  Francis  A.  Shoup  was  then  elected,  and  ac- 
cepted this  appointment,  and  continued  as  the  incumbent 
of  the  office  until  the  year  1868.  To  the  chair  of  Enghsh 
Literature  also,  Rev.  S.  G.  Burney  was  elected  during  the 
first  session,  and  to  the  chair  of  Ethics,  in  1866,  Hon.  L.  Q. 
C.  Lamar  was  called,  but  this  professorship  he  only  occu- 
pied one  year,  when  he  resigned  and  accepted  the  chair  of 
Governmental  Science  and  Law.  With  this  Faculty  we 
succeeded  gradually  in  bringing  the  various  departments  of 
the  course  into  somewhat  more  orderly  combination.  "We 
have  referred  in  a  preceding  part  of  our  sketch  to  the  char- 
acter of  the  student-body  as  being  orderly  and  studious, 
and  so  it  was.  And  yet  we  were  not  without  certain  annoy- 
ances which  were  thrust  upon  us  by  the  authorities  at 
Washington,  who  regarded  it  as  essential  to  station  a  garri- 
son in  the  towns  of  the  State,  to  guard  against  any  out- 
break of  the  spirit  of  rebellion,  which  was  thought  to  be 

456 


Seniors  of  1860-61.  457 

^only  restrained,  but  not  by  any  means  crushed  out,  or  en- 
tirely  subdued.     The    troubles    which    occasionally  came 
upon  us  from  this  arrangement,  in  all  jDrobability,  would  not 
have  taken  place  had  it  not  been  that  the  garrison  was 
made  up  of  colored  soldiers,  who  were  disposed  to  make  un- 
necessary and  wanton  interferences  with  the  students  whom 
they  met  on  the  sidewalks.     On  the  other  hand,  unwise  as 
it  was,  still  it  was  a  most  natural  impulse  in  the  young  stu- 
dents to  resent  such  aggressive  manifestations  of  these  men. 
The  result  was  an  occasional  outbreak,  which  might  have 
led  to  serious  consequences  but  for  the  utmost  prudence  on 
the  part  of  the  University  authorities,  and  the  exertion  of 
official  restraint  on  the  part  of  the  commandant  of  the  gar- 
rison.    With  these  sHght  disturbances,  which  were  never 
allowed  to  i^roceed  to  any  serious  results,  the  session  proved 
to  be  a  most  gratifj-ing  success  to  all.     It  was  made  knoAvn 
to  us,  in  the  course  of  the  fir.=;t  session,  that  a  fine  class  of 
young  men,  who  constituted  the  senior  class  of  1860-'61, 
had  finished  their  course  and  would  have  been  graduated 
at  the  usual  annual  Commencement  of  that  year.     As  the 
occurrence  of  the  war  caused  the  suspension  of  all  Univer- 
sity exercises  then,  and  thus  they  were  prevented  from  re- 
ceiving the  degree  of  A.  B.,  to  which  they  were  entitled,  the 
Board  and  Faculty  deemed  it  only  just  to  these  young  men 
to  grant  them  the  privilege  of  a  public  admission  to  gradua- 
tion on  occasion  of  the  annual  commencement  prospectivelv 
to  be  held  at  the  close  of  this  session  of  1865-'66.     This 
was  accordingly  granted   them,  and  they  or,  as  many  of 
them  as  sur\ived  the  war  and  presented  themselves  on  that 
occasion,  were  regularly  graduated  and  recognized  as  Bach- 
elors of  Arts,   and  received  the  usual  diploma  conferring 
that  degree.     This  class  consisted  of  28,  and  their  names 
are  recorded  on  pages  39  and  40  of  the  Historical  Catalogue. 
As  there  had  been  no  public  ceremonies  at  the  resumption 
of  the  suspended  exercises  in  October,  1865,  it  was  thought 


458  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

best  to  have  this  point  of  usual  resjDect  for  oui'selves,  and 
for  the  pubhc,  carried  into  proper  execution  at  the  close  of 
the  session  in  the  ordinary  form  observed  on  such  occasions. 
vVe  inaugurated  our  exercises  by  a  public  assembly  at  the 
University  chapel,  attended  by  a  large  and  enthusiastic 
audience,  beginning  v^4th  the  usual  commencement  sermon 
delivered  by  Bishop  ^Vilmer  on  Sabbath  2:)revious,  and  clos- 
ing on  the  28th  of  July  with  the  inaugural  ceremonies  of 
induction  of  the  Faculty  into  office,  on  which  occasion  an 
address  was  delivered  to  the  Faculty  by  Hon.  J.  W.  Clapp 
on  behalf  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  a  response  by  the 
chancellor  as  the  representative  of  the  Faculty. 

Every  element  of  prosperity  seemed  to  be  now  in  exist- 
ence to  cheer  us,  and  the  first  session  was  brought  to  a  very 
successful  close,  and  the  m  any  friends  of  the  institution  re- 
garded the  prospects  before  it  as  heralding  forth  a  bright 
career  oi  usefulness  and  honor  to  the  State  and  to  the 
world. 

Among  the  additions  to  the  Faculty  which,  from  time  to 
time,  were  made  by  the  Trustees,  the  University  was  highly 
favored  in  securing  the  services  in  their  several  depart- 
ments of  three  incumbents,  who  gave  great  attraction  to 
the  University.  I  have  already  referred  to  Hon.  L.  Q.  C. 
Lamar.  I  have  known  this  gentleman  since  the  year  1849, 
or  'oO,  when  he  was  on  a  visit  to  his  father-in-law,  President 
Longstreet,  of  the  University.  He  was  then  in  the  vigor 
of  his  young  manhood,  a  member  of  the  legal  profession, 
Avith  high  and  honorable  prospects  of  success  before  him  in 
his  future.  As  he  was,  at  that  time,  without  employment, 
and  seemed  favorably  impressed  with  the  idea  of  being  con- 
nected in  some  University  work,  he  accepted  an  invitation 
to  serve  in  the  Department  of  Mathematics  as  Adjimct  Pro- 
fessor. This  position  he  held  until  1852.  He  subsequently 
filled  the  cbair  of  Metaphysics  and  Ethics;  but  as  he  was 
called  to  that  professorship  in  1860,  he,  of  course,  vacated 


Hon.  L.  Q.  C.  Lamae.  459 

it  in  tlie  following  year,  18G1,  as  the  University  closed  its 
doors  in  consequence  of  the  war.  He  entered  the  army  as 
an  officer  high  in  command,  fought  through  it,  and  returned 
in  safet}'.  In  1866  he  was  again  mad  3  professor  in  the 
same  department,  but  as  the  professorship  of  Governmental 
Science  and  Law  was  vacant  by  the  death  of  the  first  incum- 
bent, Wni.  F.  Stearns,  he  was  very  soon  transferred  to  that 
department,  i.nd  there  he  found  himself  breathing  an  atmos- 
phere most  congenial  to  his  taste  and  his  great  abihties. 
He  occupied  this  chair  with  great  attractiveness  to  the 
young  men  of  the  country  until  the  year  1870.  My  own 
impression  is  that  Mr.  Lamar  had,  from  his  earlier  man- 
hood, kept  steadily  in  view  the  career  of  statesmanship.  I 
remember  a  casual  conversation  I  held  with  him  during  his 
first  years  in  Oxford,  in  which,  as  we  spake  of  his  future, 
he  remarked  that  he  would  not  be  surprised  if  he  should 
end  his  life  work  in  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  church  ! 
My  reply  was,  "No,  sir;  you  will  surely  pass  j^our  hfe  in 
the  Avorld  of  politics  !  "  I  believed  just  that,  and  so  it  has 
proved  to  be.  He  has  talents  and  abilities  to  fill  any  posi- 
tion to  wiiich  he  has  been  called,  and  I  should  judge  that 
he  has  at  last  attained  that  lofty  seat  on  the  supreme  bench 
of  the  nation  which  will  be  most  admirably  adapted  to  the 
broadest  field  of  usefulness,  and  which  is  well  fitted  to 
gratify  his  loftiest  aspirations.     Long  may  he  hold  it ! 

In  the  3'ear  1867,  when  we  had  been  at  work  resuscitating 
the  L^niversity  about  two  years,  I  received  a  communication 
from  Dr.  L.  C.  Garland,  w^ho  had  been  connected  for  many 
years  with  the  University  of  Alabama  as  Professor,  and 
afterwards  as  President,  in  which  he  stated  the  fact  that  he 
was  disposed  to  get  once  more  into  a  i^osition  of  usefulness 
in  the  sphere  of  instruction,  and  if  there  should  be  a  va- 
cancy in  his  favorite  Professorship  of  Analytical  Physics 
and  Astronomy  in  the  University  of  Mississij^pi,  he  would 
be  willing  to  fill  it.     I  immediately  saw  that  while  there  was 


460  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

not  technically  a  vacancy',  one  sucli  as  Dr.  Garland  had  a 
jDreference  for  could  easily  be  found.  Knowing  liim,  as  I 
did,  only  by  reputation,  I  yet  knew  him  to  be  qualified  to 
fill  any  place  in  any  Faculty  of  Arts,  and  the  mere  fact  of 
his  becoming  one  of  us  in  this  institution,  I  felt  would  add 
immensely  to  the  reputation  of  the  University.  The  Fede- 
ral troojjs  had  visited  Tuskaloosa  on  one  of  their  destructive 
raids,  and  burned  the  splendid  buildings  and  destroyed  the 
magnificent  libraries  and  apparatus  of  all  kinds  of  the 
State  University.  This  was  a  fearful  disaster  to  the  State, 
but  if  by  that  misfortune,  w^e  at  Oxford  had  the  opportu- 
nit}'  of  seeming  the  services  of  Landon  C  Garland,  it  was 
certainly  an  illustration  of  the  dealings  of  Providence, 
whereby  He  brings  great  good  oftentimes  out  of  great  evil. 
I  called  on  Professor  Shoup  and  stated  to  him  that  as  he 
had  more  heavy  w^ork  on  his  hands  than  he  should  be  bur- 
dened with,  I  came  to  propose  to  him  that  he  should  consent 
to  give  up  that  part  of  his  duties  that  related  to  "  Physics 
and  Astronomy,"  and  retain  Applied  Mathematics.  To  this 
proposition  he  readily  gave  his  consent,  and  agreed  to  add 
to  this  some  light  professional  subjects  of  instruction.  The 
Trustees  being  in  session  at  that  very  time,  in  Jackson,  I 
wrote  immediately  to  them  and  suggested  that  Dr.  Gar- 
land's services  could  be  obtained,  and  showed  them  how 
important  it  was  to  secure  him;  and  he  was  at  once  unani- 
mously elected.  On  receipt  of  this  intelligence  I  wrote  to 
Dr.  Garland,  and  urged  his  removal  without  any  delay  be- 
yond that  w^hicli  was  necessary,  as  we  needed  him  on  the 
ground  very  pressingly.  He  was  with  us  very  soon,  and 
we  w  elcomed  him  with  joyful  cordiality.  To  show  the  wis- 
dom of  this  choice,  I  need  only  mention  his  name  in  Missis- 
sippi, Alabama,  and  in  Tennessee,  in  each  of  which  States 
he  has  contributed  as  largely  to  the  promotion  of  the 
higher  education  as  any  man  living,  or  dead,  has  done  in 
this  century.     Dr.  G.  has  every  qualification  of  a  great  and 


Othek  Members  of  the  Faculty.  461 

successful  teacher.  He  had  learning,  and  the  happy  faculty 
of  communicating  instruction.  He  had  dignity  of  bearing, 
and  yet  cordiality  of  social  intercourse.  He  had  the  art  of 
commanding  the  profound  respect  of  the  student,  and  yet 
the  graceful  urbanity  of  manner  that  encourages  and  invites 
their  entire  confidence.  All  these  noble  qualities  had  their 
crowning  glory  in  that  highest  of  all  attainments,  the  spirit 
of  a  devout  Christian,  Vvhich  marked  his  career  in  public 
and  in  private  life.  The  Methodist  church  demonstrated 
theii'  practical  wisdom  in  placing  him  at  the  head  of  their 
greatest  literary  institution  in  this  South  land — Vanderbilt 
University,  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  The  Doctor  continued  to 
serve  the  University  until  1875,  in  the  chair  to  which  he  had 
been  appointed  in  1867,  and  also  during  the  year  '75  gave 
liis  time  to  the  class  in  Chemistry  and  Natural  History,  fill- 
ing a  temporary  vacancy  in  that  department. 

One  other  name  occurs  to  me  as  worthy  of  special  record, 
being  that  of  one  who,  during  my  term  of  service,  was  asso- 
ciated with  me  in  the  Faculty — that  is  Eugene  W.  Hilgard, 
Ph.  D.,  Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Natural  History.  PIg 
had  served  the  State  as  its  Geologist  for  some  years,  but  in 
1868  he  was  called  to  the  chair  of  Chemistry  and  Natural 
History,  which  he  filled  with  eminent  success  and  advantage 
to  the  University  until  he  was  called  to  the  University  of 
Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor.  There  he  remained  only  a  short 
time,  W'hen  he  resigned  the  position  to  take  a  professorship 
in  the  University  of  California,  which  he,  at  last  accounts, 
was  still  occupying.  Br.  Hilgard,  though  not  born  in  Ger- 
many, W'as  of  German  extract,  his  j)arents  being  natives 
of  Germany. 

I  was  fully  aware  from  other  sources  of  his  attainments 
as  a  scientist,  yet  to  those  I  add  the  testimony  of  Dr.  F.  A. 
P.  Barnard,  the  eminent  President  of  Columbia  College,  in 
the  city  of  New  York,  who  knew  and  appreciated  him 
highly.     He  said  to  me  once,  "He  is  one  of  the  finest  chem- 


462  John  N.  Waddell,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

ists  iu  America."  Dr.  H.  was  entirely  devoted  to  his  pecu- 
liar subjects,  and  yet  a  more  genial  and  cordial  friend  and 
associate  I  have  never  known.  He  was  a  Catholic  in  his  re- 
ligious views,  but  he  was  never  an  obtrusive  bigot.  He  had 
no  objections  to  the  individual  tenets  of  any  of  the  Protes- 
tant churches,  provided  the}''  were  not  obtrusively  presented 
to  him,  but  kept  on  the  even  tenor  of  his  way,  allowi^ig  to 
all  others  the  same  privilege. 

It  was  not  long  after  the  close  of  hostilities,  and  the  re- 
turn of  peace  in  '65,  that  the  Provisional  government,  under 
Governor  Sharkey,  was  brought  to  a  close  by  an  order  issued 
by  himself  on  July  1st,  that  an  election  should  be  held  on 
August  7th  of  delegates  to  a  convention,  those  being  quali- 
fied to  vote  who  were  legal  voters  previous  to  the  T\'ar,  and 
•who  had  taken  "the  oath  of  amnesty,"  which  wiis  required 
"  by  the  proclamation  of  the  President  of  May  29."  This 
convention  met  on  the  14th  of  August,  and  abolished 
slavery  and  repealed  the  ordinance  of  secession.  On  the  2d 
of  October  an  election  of  Governor  and  other  State  officers, 
together  with  Congressmen,  was  held,  which  resulted  in  the 
choice  of  Hon.  B.  G.  Humphreys  as  Governor. 

The  provision  of  the  law  directs  that  the  Governor  of  the 
State  for  the  time  being  shall  be  President  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  ex  officio  ^  and  with  him  presiding,  and  a  Board 
of  Colleagues  thoroughly  in  sympathy  with  Southern  inter- 
ests, we  had  comparatively  a  comfortable  state  of  things. 
Still  it  was  not  long  before  we  were  beginning  to  be  dis- 
turbed by  the  ominous  mutterings  of  a  coming  storm  in  our 
political  sky.  The  Congress  of  the  United  States  had 
passed  Acts  of  Reconstruction,  and  among  other  particu- 
lars  in  their  legislation,  "  constituted  the  States  of  Missis- 
sippi and  Arkansas,  the  Fourth  Militar}^  District,  under 
command  of  Major-General  Ord.  Por  some  reason,  not  re- 
corded, General  Ord  was  directed  to  turn  over  his  command 
to  General  Gillem.     Another  convention  was  assembled  in 


Many  Changes.  463 

January,  186^,  under  this  military  government,  which  sat 
for  more  than  four  months  in  Jackson,  having  adopted  a 
new  constitution.  On  June  4th,  General  Irwin  McDowell 
took  the  command  of  the  military  district,  and  he  ai^i^ointed 
Major-General  Adelbert  Ames,  Provisional  Governor,  super- 
seding Governor  B.  G.  Humphreys,  the  choice  of  the  peo- 
ple. The  constitution  which  had  been  adoj)ted  at  the  late 
convention  was  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  qualified  electors 
of  the  State,  and  was  rejected  by  a  majority  of  7,G39  votes. 
This  occurred  in  1868,  during  the  mihtary  government. 
By  an  act  of  Congress  of  Ai^ril  10,  1869,  President  Grant 
was  authorized  to  submit  this  rejected  constitution  again  to 
a  vote  of  the  peoi)le.  This  election  occurred  in  November, 
1869,  and  those  clauses  of  the  constitution  that  were  so  ob- 
jectionable on  account  of  disfranchisement,  and  disqualify- 
ing those  from  holding  office  who  had  taken  part  against 
the  Union  in  the  civil  war,  being  allowed  to  be  decided  for 
or  against  retention,  "  the  constitution  was  ratified  almost 
unanimously,  and  the  objectionable  clauses  were  rejected." 
The  next  step  was  that  "  at  the  same  time  James  L.  Alcorn, 
a  Eepublican,  was  elected  Governor  of  Mississipi^i  over 
Louis  Dent,  a  Conservative,  by  a  vote  of  76,186  against 
38,097.  This  was  followed  by  a  session  of  the  Legislature 
in  January,  1870,  which  ratified  the  Fourteenth  and  Fif- 
teenth Amendments  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  relative  to  slavery:  the  State  was  readmitted  into 
the  Union  by  an  act  of  Congress  passed  on  February  23d, 
and  Governor  Alcorn  was  inaugurated  on  March  10th ;  the 
militar}^  government  ceased,  and  the  civil  authorities  as- 
sumed control." 


CHAPTER  XLYI. 

TJndeu  a  New  Regime. — Some  Signs  of  Diminished  Patronage. — 
Judge  Hudson's  Letter  and  the  Answer  to  It.  — Goternor  Al- 
corn.— New  Board  Appointed  —A  Sketch. — Smat.t.  Attendance. 

THIS  j^ear,  1870,  was  characterized  by  eyents  of  much 
interest  and  importance,  both  public  and  private,  as  the 
history  of  the  Uniyersity  was  closely  connected  with  the 
political  condition  of  the  State.  We  found  our  second 
year's  roll  of  students  in  attendance  to  have  increased  to 
2-16,  and,  as  above  stated,  we  were  able  to  send  out  our 
first  graduating  class  and  to  bring  the  session  to  its  end  in 
June,  1867,  with  a  full  order  of  creditable  exercises,  honorary 
and  regular.  The  graduates,  though  few  in  number  (only 
four),  reflected  great  credit  upon  the  institution  in  their 
performances  on  the  rostrum,  and  in  their  subsequent  his- 
tory. They  were  J.  C.  Bush,  of  Mobile,  Ala.,  T.  G.  Bash,. 
now  a  prominent  citizen  of  Anniston,  Ala.,  G.  E.  Critz, 
Starkville,  Miss.,  and  J.  S.  Moore,  D.  D.,  now  a  distin- 
guished divine  and  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Chm'ch  at 
Sherman,  Texas.  I  may  add  that  the  next  year,  1868,  showed 
a  slight  diminution  of  onr  list,  though  the  number  of  gradu- 
ates in  the  Literary  Department  was  much  increased,  being 
24 ;  while  the  Law  Class  of  the  preceding  session  had  shown 
but  one  graduate  (Hon.  Charles  Bowen  Howry),  it  also  had 
risen  to  the  number  of  twelve  in  1868  who  were  graduated, 
the  whole  number  of  law  students  having  been  24  during 
the  session.  From  this  time  onward  until  the  year  1870- 
'71  there  may  be  observed  a  slight  decrease  in  our  at- 
tendance every  year,  reaching  the  minimum  120  in  the  Arts 

464 


Governor  Alcorn  and  the  "University.  465 

Department,  and  in  the  Law  Class  there  were  but  15.  I  use 
this  year  as  ni}-  basis  of  calculation,  as  I  regard  it  as  the? 
year  in  which  our  numbers  sank  lowest,  and  from  which; 
we  began  to  rally  again.  The  cause  of  this  temporary  de- 
chne  in  patronage  is  not  far  to  seek,  and  will  suggest  itself 
to  an}'  one  yrho  will  recall  the  fact  that  the  University  is  a 
State  institution,  and  that  the  State  was  now  in  the  hands 
of  alien  controllers,  with  some  exceptions.  The  natural 
consequence  of  this  state  of  the  case  was  that  the  appre- 
hensions of  the  real  citizens  of  the  State  were  aroused  to 
what  they  beheved  to  be  the  danger  of  action  of  the  pow- 
ers to  force  upon  the  University  the  recej^tion  of  colored 
students.  To  do  ample  justice  to  Governor  Alcorn,  I  take 
the  opportunity  to  state,  from  what  I  deemed  rehable  evi- 
dence, that  he  had  no  such  intention,  and  that  if  all  the- 
colored  men,  women,  and  children  in  the  State  should  have^ 
petitioned  him  to  sanction  such  a  policy,  he  would  have  per- 
sistently refused.  I  was  not  with  him  in  his  political  senti- 
ments, but  quite  the  contrary,  I  am  sure.  But  I  believe, 
and  have  said  openly,  that  it  was  a  great  event  in  the  Pro\i- 
dence  of  God,  for  the  preservation  of  the  University,  that 
he  was  placed  "at  the  helm  of  the  ship  of  state"  just  at 
that  juncture  in  its  history'.  1st,  He  was  a  Southern  man^ 
2d,  He  had  owned  large  numbers  of  negroes,  and  bene® 
knew  their  nature  and  character  as  a  race.  3d,  He  haci' 
more  influence  with  the  party  then  in  j^ower  than  any  otheir 
man  of  the  North  or  South.  4th,  He  was  a  friend  of  the- 
South,  and  knew  full  well  the  imminent  peril  that  would- 
rest  upon  the  true  interests  of  the  State  by  favoring  this 
false  policy.  I  will  now  record  something  of  the  insida 
history  of  this  condition  of  popular  sentiment  in  the  first* 
place,  and  then  I  will  give  facts  to  show  grounds  for  the 
above  expressed  opinion  in  regard  to  Governor  Alcorn. 

It  was  during  the  time  when  the  dissatisfaction  of  the^ 
people  of  jlississippi,  imder  Radical  rule  in  1870,  was  grow- 
30 


466  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

ing  more  iutense  and  bitter  daily,  that,  just  previous  to  the 
fall  opening  of  the  session,  in  September,  I  received  a  most 
respectful  communication  from  a  distinguished  citizen  of 
the  State,  the  Hon.  R.  S.  Hudson,  of  Yazoo  City,  in  Avliich, 
after  some  remarks  introductory,  by  way  of  preface,  he 
makes  the  following  inquiry : 

"  Will  the  Faculty  of  the  University,  as  now  composed, 
receive  or  reject  an  applicant  for  admission  as  a  student  on 
account  of  color  or  race  ?  "  He  stated  that  he  knew^  me, 
and  was  under  no  necessity  of  asking  my  views,  but  he  de- 
sired an  explicit  statement  of  the  views  of  my  colleagues. 
He  added  that  the  people  of  the  State  w^ere  greatly  excited 
upon  the  subject,  and  he  was  particularly  desirous  that  I 
£;hould  furnish  such  a  communication  in  reply  as  would 
answer  the  pur]30se  of  extensive  pubhcation  in  the  public 
journals  of  the  State. 

As  Judge  Hudson  was  a  warm  friend  and  patron  of  the 
University,  I  immediatel}'"  called  a  meeting  of  the  Faculty, 
and  the  only  Trustee  to  whom  I  could  convey  a  summons, 
and  laid  the  letter  before  them  for  discussion  and  action. 
The  result  was  that  which  will  be  found  in  a  communica- 
tion prepared  by  myself  in  words  following,  to-wit : 

"University  of  ^.Iississippi,  September  1%th.^  1870. 

"Hon.  R  S.  Hudson: 

"Dear  Sir:  Your  letter  of  inquiry  of  27th  inst.  is  re- 
ceived, and  as  your  object  is  clearly  and  candidly  expressed, 
you  are  entitled  to  a  reply  just  as  clear  and  candid. 

"In  answer  to  j'our  general  question,  '  AYill  the  Faculty, 
as  now  composed,  receive  or  reject  an  applicant  for  admis- 
sion as  a  student  on  account  of  color  or  race  % '  we  proceed 
to  say  that  this  Faculty  would,  most  assuredly,  in  deciding 
the  question  of  admission,  be  governed  by  the  consideration 
of  the  color  and  race  of  the  applicant.  Furthermore,  and 
the  more  clearly  to  meet  the  point  which  we  know  j'ou  had 
in  view  in  the  inquiry,  we  state  that  should  the  opplicant 


Ths  Color  Line.  467 

belong  to  the  negro  race,  we  shall,  vnthout  hesitation,  reject 
him.  "We  presume  that  this  answer  will  be  satisfactory  to 
you,  as  well  as  to  the  ^'many  others,"  who,  "with  you, 
*' await  the  answer  you  solicit,"  and  that  "this  response" 
will  not  be  found  "  marked  by  any  evasion,  or  uncertaint}'." 
Here  then  we  might  close  our  reply,  but  inasmuch  as  many 
■will  have  access  to  our  correspondence,  who  may  not  be  so 
readily  satisfied,  we  shall  briefly,  but  with  as  much  clear- 
ness as  possible,  present  the  considerations  which,  in  our 
judgment,  imperiously  demand  of  us  the  above  indicated 
course. 

"1.  The  I'niversity  of  Mississippi  was  founded  originally, 
and  has  been  conducted  exclusively,  in  all  its  past  history, 
J  or  the  education  of  the  white  race.  The  Congress  of  the 
United  States,  which  endowed  the  institution ;  the  State  of 
Mississippi,  which,  hj  its  Legislature,  accepted  the  endow- 
ment and  chartered  and  fostered  the  University;  the  suc- 
cessive Boards,  of  Trustees  which  have,  for  a  quarter  of  a 
century  x^ast,  directed  its  affairs  ;  the  Faculties  which  have 
presided  over  it,  and  governed  it;  and  lastly,  the  citizens  of 
the  State  who  have  patronized  it ;  never,  for  a  moment,  con- 
ceived it  possible  or  proper  that  a  negro  should  be  admitted 
to  its  classes,  graduated  with  its  honors,  or  presented  with 
its  diplomas. 

"2.  The  Faculty  are  not  invested  with  the  law-making 
power,  and  until  the  Board  of  Trustees,  who  possess  this 
prerogative,  legislate  a  change  in  the  relations  of  the  races, 
the  University  will  continue  to  be,  what  it  always  has  been, 
an  institution  exclusively  for  the  education  of  the  white  race. 

"3.  We  have  received  not  the  slightest  intimation  that 
such  change  is  contemplated  by  the  Board  of  Trustees,  but, 
on  the  contrary,  so  far  as  we  know,  it  is  their  mind  and  pur- 
pose to  maintain  the  institution  unchanged  in  this  resjDect. 

"4.  We  add,  what  is  due  to  ourselves,  as  well  as  to  the 
patrons  of  the  institution,  that  should  such  a  change  be 
made  in  the  internal  regulations  of  the  University  as  to  re- 


468  John  L.  V;addel,  D.  D.  LL.  D. 

quire  the  Faculty  to  receive  and  admit  applicants  of  the 
negro  race  to  the  classes,  the  members  of  the  present 
Faculty  "would  instantly  tender  the  resignation  of  the  offices 
they  now  hold,  and  surrender  the  trust  to  the  authorities  of 
the  University,  as  that  of  which  they  could  not  longer  con- 
scientiously consent  to  be  the  fiduciaries. 

"The  above  is  the  'authoritative  and  reliable  response 
of  the  Faculty,  and  the  status  of  each  member  thereof  on 
this  question.'  It  is  subscribed  by  each  member  of  the 
Faculty,  with  the  exception  of  Professor  Lyon,  who,  being 
absent  in  a  distant  part  of  the  country,  could  not,  of  course, 
affix  his  signature  to  it  at  this  time.  It  is  due  to  that  gen- 
tleman to  add,  that  no  one  entertains  the  above  sentiments 
more  cordially  than  he  does,  and  no  member  of  the  Faculty 
"would  more  promptly  subscribe  this  document. 

"  Since  this  question  was  regarded  as  one  of  sufficient 
importance  to  be  propounded  to  the  Faculty,  our  only  regret 
in  connection  with  the  matter  is,  that  it  has  been  delayed 
until  a  period  immediately  before  the  opening  of  the  session 
of  the  institution ;  since,  if  our  status  on  this  subject  were 
doubtful,  it  would  have  been  better  for  the  interests  in- 
volved that  this  doubt  should  have  been  removed  at  such 
time  as  would  have  enabled  parents  and  guardians  to  decide 
for  themselves  whether  or  not  they  could  intrcst  their  sous 
and  wards  to  an  institution  which  is,  and  has  ever  been,  de- 
signed exclusively  for  the  white  race. 
"  Very  respectf ulh'-, 

"  John  N.  Waddel, 
"  Chancellor,  hi  behalf  of  the  Faculty." 

Before  I  dismiss  this  subject,  I  will  state  that  the  above 
communication  was  forwarded  to  Judge  Hudson,  and  by 
him  sent  to  the  public  journals  of  the  State,  and  thus  was 
largely  circulated  and  extensively  read  by  the  peoj^le  of 
Mississippi,  and  sufficed  to  place  the  University  in  its  ap- 
propriate position  on  this  subject,  then  occupying  a  large 


Alcorn  University.  469 

space  in  the  public  mind  I  had  occasion  soon  after  this  to 
visit  Jackson,  attending-  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
and  I  remember  a  conversation  I  held  with  Judge  Sharkey, 
in  reference  to  this  matter,  in  which  he  voluntarily  and  veiy 
em2:)hatically  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  by  that  letter  to 
Judge  Hudson  "the  University  was  saved."  I  have  no 
doubt  of  the  fact  that,  if  an  opposite  course  had  been 
adopted,  the  usefulness  of  the  institution  would  have  been 
destroyed  for  3'ears,  and  the  condition  of  the  State,  demor- 
ahzed  as  it  was,  would  have  been  far  worse  in  every  respect. 
As  the  matter  terminated,  we  had  no  trouble  on  the  subject 
at  all,  and  the  Governor  wisely  settled  the  point  by  recom- 
mending to  the  Legislature  to  appropriate  $50,000  for  the 
establishment  of  a  University'  for  the  higher  education  of 
the  colored  population,  which  was  done ;  and,  in  honor  of 
the  Governor,  it  was  chartered  as  "Alcorn  University." 

The  war  had,  by  its  disastrous  progress,  swept  away  nearly 
all  the  colleges  in  the  State,  and  among  them  Oakland  Col- 
lege; and  after  an  effort  to  resuscitate  it,  made  by  its 
friends,  it  succumbed,  and  the  Presbyterians,  who  had  con- 
trol of  the  property,  its  buildings,  and  grounds,  sold  out  to 
the  new  colored  institution,  entirely,  for  $30,000;  and  the  Al- 
corn University  was  located  there,  in  Claiborne  county,  seventy 
miles  southwest  of  Jackson.  At  the  same  time,  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  the  Governor,  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  to 
grant  the  hke  amount  to  the  University  of  Mississippi  for 
its  support.  This  constituted  the  soui'ce  from  which  the 
Faculty  drew  their  salaries ;  but  as  it  was  issued  from  the 
treasury  iu  the  form  of  State  warrants,  the  intrinsic  value 
in  currency  varied  from  $G0  to  $75  in  every  $100.  Still 
it  is  due  the  authorities  that  I  should  say  the  salaries  were 
reckoned  to  the  Faculty  in  full  papnent  of  the  real  amount 
promised:  that  is  to  say,  that  if  we  received  a  warrant  of 
the  State  of  one  hundred  dollars  denomination,  it  was  held 
as  paying  us  only  seventy-five,  and  in  this  way  we  lost  no- 
thing.    I  considered  one  of  the  points  of  deep  interest  to  our 


470  John  N.  >Vaddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

prosperity  as  an  institution  of  learning  to  be  tlie  organiza- 
tion of  the  Board  of  Trustees  on  the  proper  basis.  Accord- 
ingly, I  addressed  the  Governor  soon  after  his  inauguration, 
a  communication  suggesting  to  him  as  a  wise  arrangement 
that  the  twelve  Trustees  who  were  to  constitute  the  Board 
(not  including  the  Governor,  who  should  be  ex  officio  by 
law  the  presiding  ofiicer),  should  be  always  nominated  by 
the  Governor  himself  to  the  State  Senate,  in  three  classes 
of  four  each,  whose  term  of  service  should  expire  at  regular 
intervals  after  appointment.  ?Jy  reason  for  this  suggestion 
was  that  the  appointment  of  Trustees  hvA  been  made  by 
the  body  of  the  two  houses  of  tlie  Legislature  in  convention 
assembled,  and  this  was  attended  with  a  great  deal  of  con- 
fusion, and  I  was  afraid  that  unworthy  parties  might  be  ap- 
pointed. It  would  be  safer  a  great  deal,  I  thought,  to  place 
the  nomination  in  the  power  of  the  Governor,  and  the  con- 
firmation in  that  of  the  Senate.  I  do  not  claim  that  this 
suggestion  of  mine  was  the  moving  iniluence  with  His  Ex- 
cellency, inducing  him  to  adopt  this  method.  At  all  events, 
this  plan  was  adopted,  and  the  result  was  that  a  Board  of 
Trustees  was  appointed,  consisting  in  ^^art  of  Bepublicans, 
and  in  part  of  Southern  men,  which  proved  to  be  satisfactory. 
I  close  this  chapter  by  the  statement  that  our  attendance 
of  students  in  the  session  1870-71  ran  down  to  120.  In 
my  communication  in  answer  to  Judge  Hudson's  letter  of 
inquiry,  I  alluded  to  the  fact  that  it  was  too  late  for  our  de- 
claration to  reach  the  people  of  the  State  in  time  to  affect,  in 
any  way,  the  patronage.  It  was  generally  apprehended 
throughout  the  State  that,  to  use  the  expression  common  in 
those  days,  "the  University  was  going  to  be  radicalized," 
and  it  required  the  entire  session  to  pass,  and  the  most  pru- 
dent and  devoted  zeal  and  vigilance  on  the  part  of  the  Fac- 
ulty, to  bring  the  institution  into  the  confidence  of  the  citi- 
zens of  Mississipi^i,  which  it  had  enjoyed  to  so  remarkable  a 
degree  previously.  But  we  triumphed,  by  the  blessing  of 
a  kind  Providence,  in  due  time. 


Bev.  Jas.  a.  Lyon.  471 

During  the  year  1870,  at  a  meeting  of  tlie  Trustees,  Kev. 
Jas.  A.  Lyon,  D.  D.,  Pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Columbus,  Miss.,  was  elected  to  fill  the  chair  of  Metaphysics, 
which  had  been  vacated  by  the  resignation  of  General  Shoup, 
in  1869.  Dr.  Lyon  entered  at  once  upon  the  discharge  of  the 
duties  of  this  chair,  and  continued  in  the  faithful  work  of  aii 
instructor,  and  in  the  additional  labors  of  a  minister  of  the 
gospel  in  various  neighboring  churches,  some  time  in  Oxford, 
and  for  some  time  in  Grenada,  until  his  resignation  in  1S81, 
in  consequence  of  the  loss  of  his  health.  He  did  not  long 
survive  after  his  resignation,  but  lingered  on  in  great  feeble- 
ness until  ho  closed  his  hfe  peacefully,  on  May  15th,  1882, 
surrounded  by  his  devoted  family,  Dr.  Lyon  was  a  man  of 
no  ordinary  intellectual  ability,  and  a  lofty  sense  of  Christian, 
honor.  His  quickness  cf  sensibility  made  him  intolerant  of 
the  violations  of  the  courtesies  and  civilities  of  gentlemanly 
social  life.  He  was  a  high-toned  Christian  gentleman  him- 
self, a  warm  and  devoted  friend.  I  have  known  him  to 
carry  his  devotion  to  a  friend  so  far  as  to  really  endanger 
himself.  The  duties  of  his  chosen  clicir  were  his  special 
study,  and  his  favorite  pursuit,  outsido  the  ministry.  My 
last  intercourse  with  him  was  through  the  mail,  in  July,  '81,. 
and  consisted  of  a  card,  in  which,  after  speaking  of  his  health 
somewhat  hopefully,  he  closes  by  remarking  that  "Mest — 
rest  of  body,  mind  and  soul,  is  essential."  Froin  this  it  may 
be  inferred  that  he  had  led  a  most  laborious  life,  and  that 
his  sufferings  were  all  traceable  to  this  fact.  Dr.  Lyon  had 
a  call  to  various  positions,  and  among  them  I  can  recall  the 
presidency  of  the  Stewart  College  (afterwards  the  South- 
western University)  at  Clarksville,  Tennessee.  This  oc- 
curred in  1869,  bat  he  declined  in  consideration  of  the  ear- 
nest devotion  of  his  church  in  Columbus,  of  which  he  was 
then  pastor.  He  was  also  called,  after  he  had  been  in  the 
"University  for  some  years,  to  a  professorship  in  the  Danville 
Theological  Seminary,  which  he  also  declined. 


CHAPTEE  XLYII. 

3.ETUEN  or  CoNriDE>-CE  IN  THE  UNIVERSITY  ON  THE  PaKT  OF  THE  PEO- 
PLE OF  THE  State. — Gov.  Alcoen. — Respect  Shown  the  Board. — - 
Two  Unpleasant  Incidents.  — The  Dormitory  System.  — Change 
x)F  The  University  System. 

IT  may  have  been  very  objectionable  to  many  of  tbe  party 
in  power,  that  this  correspondence  between  the  Faculty 
and  Judge  Hudson  seemed  to  j)lace  the  University  on  such 
-lofty  and  independent  ground  in  regard  to  the  race  pro- 
'"blem.  But,  judging  by  the  evidences  which  we  received  on 
all  hands,  and  from  r.U  quarters,  the  true  citizens  of  the 
State  and  the  repl  patrons  of  the  University,  not  only  within 
ihe  limits  of  Mississippi,  but  from  other  surrounding  States, 
■  were  prompt  and  cordial  in  dismissing  their  api^rehensions 
on  the  subject  of  mixed  patronage ;  since  the  catalogue  of 
the  session  of  1871-'72  presented  as  in  attendance,  260  stu- 
dents, an  increase  of  more  than  100  per  cent,  as  compared 
with  the  number  in  attendance  during  the  preceding  ses- 
sion; and  in  1872-73  there  Avere  present  302.  Indeed,  in 
all  the  elements  of  true  i)rosperity,  we  were  gratified  to  find 
the  institution  regaining  lost  prestige,  and  doing  noble 
-work  in  training  the  youth  of  the  land  for  their  future  po- 
sitions in  the  State  and  country.  I  sincerely  believe  that 
the  policy  of  Governor  Alcorn  was  directed  to  the  advance- 
ment of  the  best  interests  of  the  University  at  all  times,  and 
"by  his  influence  with  the  radical  party  ho  restrained  what- 
ever tendency  might  have  cropped  out  to  curtail  its  useful- 
ness. The  members  of  the  Board,  as  has  been  stated,  con- 
sisted of  an  equal  number  of  both  parties;  and  as  they  were 
bound  to  be  present  on  the  grounds  of  the  University  at 
the  annual  meeting  in  June,  during  the  exercises  of  Com- 

±7'Z 


Partisan  Feeling.  473 

Tnencement,  tbev  were  always  received  with  respect  by  Fac- 
ulty and  students,  and  the  deliberations  of  the  Board  were 
always  harmonious,  I  remember  two  occasions,  however, 
when  there  seemed  to  be  appearances  of  a  threatened  storm 
on  the  part  of  the  radical  members  of  the  Board.  One  of 
these  incidents  occurred  in  1869,  on  the  day  appropriated 
i;o  the  Sophomore  Prize  Declamation,  during  Commencement. 
One  of  the  declaimers  delivered  a  selected  piece,  which  was 
a  violent  denunciation  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States, 
as  it  then  existed,  composed  of  Kepublicans  almost  exclu- 
sively. One  of  the  Trustees,  who  had  been  appointed  re- 
cently, by  Ames,  then  Provisional  Governor,  was  a  Repub- 
lican, and  (at  that  time  the  only  one  of  that  party)  took 
great  offence  that  this  speech  should  have  been  allowed  to 
be  spoken  at  all. 

It  was  freely  discussed  by  the  Board,  and  Professor  Shoup 
w^hose  duty  it  was  to  supervise  the  speeches  of  the  students, 
and  to  decide  what  should  be  spoken  and  what  should  be 
excluded,  ^^  as  harshly  criticised.  This  professor,  in  an  inter- 
view with  me,  declared,  that  while  he  might  have  been  un- 
intentionally somewhat  careless  in  his  duty  of  critical  censor, 
at  the  same  time,  if  he  should  fall  under  censure  by  the 
Board,  he  should  tender  his  resignation  at  once.  This  he 
did,  but  he  was  allowed  by  the  Board  to  withdraw  it,  with 
the  understanding  that  such  speeches  were  not  to  be  ]:)re- 
sented  again.  The  professor  declined  to  withdraw  his  resig- 
nation, and  left  the  University. 

A  similar  occurrence  took  place,  in  which  I  myself  was 
innocentty  under  censure,  on  another  Commencement  occa- 
sion, in  1872,  somewhat  in  this  wise :  A  student,  who  had 
submitted  his  speech  to  my  criticism  in  the  usual  course 
(not  a  selected  speech,  but  original,)  after  my  having  al- 
lowed it  to  pass,  inserted  a  sentence  in  the  body  of  the  pro- 
duction, reflecting,  in  very  disrespectful  language,  upon  the 
3)arty  in  power.     On  this  occasion,  there  probably  were 


474  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

present  on  the  rostrum  as  man}-  as  half  a  dozen  Republican 
trustees  ^vho  heard  the  remark,  and  were  very  indignant. 
I  told  them  that,  while  I  was  responsible  for  all  the  speeches 
on  such  occasions,  and  was  careful  to  require  every  impro- 
per word  on  anj'  subject  to  be  erased  and  omitted,  I  cer- 
tainly could  not  account  for  the  insertion  of  any  such  pass- 
age and  its  delivery,  as  I  liad  no  recollection  of  it  when  it 
was  passing  under  my  review.  I  did  not  deprecate  their 
displeasure,  but  submitted  the  case  to  their  decision,  as  I 
totally  disapproved  of  the  conduct  of  the  speaker.  They 
passed  it  over ;  but  I  learned  subsequently  that  the  youth 
had  omitted  it  in  the  speech  as  submitted  to  me,  and  in- 
serted it  ill  the  speech  delivered.  These  things  are  men- 
tioned to  illustrate  the  state  of  feeling  then  existing  in  the 
State.  The  party  in  power  naturally  felt  jealous  of  any  dis- 
respect shown  them  by  the  community.  The  students  were 
all  young,  and  they  felt  restive  under  the  "  yoke  of  bondage," 
as  they  considered  the  government  by  Northern  men.  The 
Faculty  were  earnestly  desirous  of  peaceful  exercise  of  their 
authority  over  the  students ;  and  I  can  testify  to  the  fact 
that  we  not  only  ourselves  met  the  Eepublican  trustees  on 
all  occasions  with  respect  and  courtesy,  but  it  was  our  ear- 
nest and  constant  injunction  upon  all  the  students,  in  pub- 
lic and  in  private,  in  the  chapel,  where  we  daily  assembled 
with  the  entire  student  body,  and  in  our  private  social  in- 
tercourse with  them,  that  they  should  conduct  themselves 
with  special  propriety  and  respectful  demeanor  towards 
these  gentlemen,  in  whose  hands  the  very  existence  of  the 
University  was  placed,  and  that  this  great  interest  de- 
manded the  sacrifice  of  all  private  animosity,  and  the  re- 
straint of  every  demonstration  of  ill-will  to  those  who  were 
in  authority  by  legal  appointment.  It  cannot  be  denied 
that  these  were  troublous  times  for  the  institution,  so  much 
so  that  I  felt,  at  first,  almost  decided  to  consider  a  call  to  an 
institution  in  a  distant  State.     But  matters  were  managed,. 


Disorder  Amonct  Students.  475 

under  divine  gnidance,  successfully,  and  we  entertained  tlie 
trustees  hospitably  when  they  attended  at  Commencement, 
and  kept  our  institution  from  falling  into  disrepute  with 
our  own  Southern  fellow-citizens,  during  the  whole  of  those 
trying  years.  There  was,  however,  a  tendency  of  a  differ- 
ent nature  growing  up  among  our  students  as  the  time 
rolled  on.  The  students  who  constituted  the  body  in  at- 
tendance nearest  to  the  days  of  the  re-organization,  in  1865, 
we  have  described  as  being  disposed  to  make  the  wisest  and 
most  profitable  use  of  their  time  and  advantages  ;  but  they 
completed  their  course  in  due  time,  and  by  natural  and  ne- 
cessary consequence  many  of  them  rose,  step  by  step,  to 
positions  of  great  usefulness  and  distinction  in  the  church 
and  in  the  State.  In  due  time  a  younger  class  of  students 
entered  the  University,  and  while,  like  all  of  our  boys  at  that 
age  (from  sixteen  to  twenty)  in  our  institutions  of  learning, 
there  is  a  tendency  to  more  or  less  of  disorder,  there  was 
no  such  state  of  things  as  exists  in  many  of  the  colleges 
and  universities  of  the  country,  and  such  as  is  recorded  by 
Professor  La  Borde,  of  the  Sonth  Carolina  College,  in  his 
history  of  that  college  under  its  earher  presiding  officers, 
when  there  was  scarcely  a  year  in  the  history  of  that  insti- 
tution during  some  part  of  which  there  did  not  occur  a  re- 
bellion of  the  students ;  yet  we  had  more  or  less  disorder. 
I  think  I  may  safely  announce  it  as  my  opinion  that  if  or- 
derly and  desirable  deportment,  with  quiet  and  home-like 
manners,  are  expected  of  students  in  our  colleges  and  uni- 
versities, the  families  of  the  locality  furnish  a  far  more  suc- 
cessful and  desirable  placo  for  boarding  them  than  the  sys- 
tem of  dormitories,  which  was  in  use  at  Oxford.  This  de- 
cision of  mine  is  the  result  of  an  experience  at  two  colleges 
over  ^yhich  it  was  my  lot  to  preside,  where  the  family  sys- 
tem prevailed,  contrasted  with  my  eighteen  years  of  connec- 
tion with  the  University  of  Mississippi,  where  were  three 
lar::re  dormitories. 


47G  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  V>.,  LL.  D. 

This  subject  need  not  be  further  discussed,  as  it  has  al- 
ready been  discussed  in  my  historical  sketch  of  La  Grange 
College  in  a  former  chapter  of  this  memoii'.  Let  me  merely 
add  on  the  subject  of  discipline,  in  its  practical  "working, 
that  the  phrase,  ''2)uttifig  sticde?its  on  their  honor,''  requires 
«ome  impartial  consideration  before  it  should  be  discarded 
as  a  principle  of  college  government.  Carried  to  the  ex- 
treme of  utter  neglect  of  all  enforcement  of  law,  it  will  prove 
disastrous ;  but  to  lay  down,  at  the  outset,  the  axiom  that 
students  are  not  worthy  of  the  confidence  of  those  entrusted 
with  authority,  and  to  have  if  understood  that  rigid  stern- 
ness is  to  characterize  the  intercourse  between  the  two 
bodies  who  are  to  be  associated  in  the  joint  enterprise  of 
imparting  and  receiving  instruction,  tends  infallibly  to  that 
old  antagonism  which  once  held  sway  between  pupil  and 
teacher,  and  which  will  give  the  teacher,  in  the  mind  of  the 
pupil,  the  role  of  a  mere  police  detective.  Two  things  I 
have  discovered  to  work  favorably  with  bod-es  of  students  : 
1.  Let  them  be  imj^ressed  at  the  outset  of  their  course  and 
association  with  the  Faculty  that  they  are  esteemed  as  gen- 
tlemen, Christian  gentlemen,  and  that  they  shall  be  so  con- 
sidered and  treated  until  they,  by  unw^orthy  bearing,  unbe- 
coming such  a  character,  prove  that  they  are  undeserving  of 
esteem ;  that  the  motto  of  institution  must  be  understood  to 
be,  "  Liberty  without  license,  and  authority  without  despot- 
ism." 2.  That  it  is  much  easier  to  j^revent  a  scheme  of 
miscliief  than  to  remedy  it  after  it  has  been  developed.  To 
particularize  under  this  head  would  require  minute  details 
of  all  sorts  of  incidents  that  have  occurred  during  my  career 
as  a  presiding  officer.  Let  it  suffice  that  I  simply  indicate 
the  cost  of  success  to  be  that  vigilance  which  may  always 
note  the  state  of  public  sentiment  in  such  student  commu- 
nity, and  an  ordinary  degree  of  sagacity  will  often  enable 
the  presiding  officer  to  interfere  so  quietly  as  to  arrest  a 
scheme  of  this  kind  without  making  public  the  manner  in 
which  it  was  defeated. 


System  of  AD>nNisTRATioN.  477 

The  cares  of  the  external  and  internal  management  of  the 
University  were  very  onerous  during  the  latter  part  of  my 
second  term  of  service  in  connection  with  it,  in  the  capacity 
of  presiding  officer.  The  sj'stcm  of  its  administration  had 
been,  from  the  beginning,  merely  the  ordinary  close  college 
method  of  four  regular  classes — Freshman,  Sophomore,  Ju- 
nior, and  Senior — to  which  we  had  been  compelled  to  sub- 
join what  was  called  an  Irregular  class,  the  student  being 
not  obliged  to  take  all  the  studies  prescribed  in  the  curricu- 
lum, and  not  expected  to  take  a  degree.  This  class,  not 
being  full^^  occupied  with  their  comparatively  meagTe  ex- 
tent of  study,  gave  the  Faculty  no  little  trouble  in  control. 
In  addition  to  this,  we  felt  that  it  was  absolutely  necessary 
to  re-organize  our  system  so  as  to  make  the  institution  such 
as  would  entitle  it  truly  to  the  name  of  a  Universit^^,  and  to 
keep  it  abreast  of  the  world  of  science  and  letters,  or  be 
left  behind  in  this  advancing  age. 

Accordingly,  in  my  annual  report  to  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees, bearing  daie  June  17,  1863,  I  find  the  following  pas- 
sage, which  explains  itself: 

"  YII.  Tour  of  'Visitation  to  Other  InstitiUioJis.  In  con- 
sequence of  the  late  war,  it  is  obvious  that  all  the  Southern 
institutions  have  fallen  behind  in  the  march  of  improve- 
ment in  many  resj^ects.  Impressed  with  this  fact,  I  re- 
spectfully suggest  to  the  Board  the  propriety  of  commis- 
sioning me  as  your  agent  to  visit  as  many  of  the  colleges 
and  universities,  both  North  and  South,  as  can  be  reached 
within  the  ensuing  vacation,  with  a  view  to  obtain,  by  per- 
sonal visits  to  their  faculties,  all  the  information  that  may 
be  made  valuable  to  our  University.  The. subjects  embraced 
in  such  an  investigation  would  be  modes  of  instruction,  sys- 
tems of  discipline,  with  all  minute  details  and  plans  for  the 
more  efficient  management  and  accomplishment  of  univer- 
sity education.  Many  facts  of  great  importance  and  valuo 
might  be  elicited  by  personal  conference,  which  could  not 


478  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

be  acquired  hy  correspondence.  The  amount  necessaiy  to 
be  appropriated  to  the  objects  of  such  an  agency  cannot 
be  ascertained  with  exactness,  but  such  a  sum  as  may  be 
deemed  adequate  should  be  appropriated,  a  strict  record  of 
expenses  kept,  and  only  so  much  expended  as  might  be 
needed,  and  all  the  rest  accounted  for." 

In  accordance  with  this  recommendation  the  folio  win  2f 
action  was  taken  by  the  Board  at  their  meeting  on  June  17, 
18G9: 

"  On  motion  of  ^Ir.  'West,  it  was  Resolved,  That  the 
Chancellor  of  the  University  be,  and  he  is  hereby  author- 
ized, to  visit  as  many  of  the  colleges  and  universities,  both 
North  and  South,  as  can  be  reached  during  the  ensuing  va- 
cation, with  a  view  to  obtain,  by  personal  visits  to  their  facul- 
ties, all  the  information  that  may  be  made  valuable  to  our 
"Universit3-.' 

Aqain,  on  occasion  of  an  adjourned  meetiuGf  of  the  Board 
in  September,  I  presented  my  report  of  the  tour  of  observa- 
tion thus  authorized,  and  the  Board  received  it,  accompa- 
nied by  the  following  action : 

"  On  motion  of  ]\Ir.  "West,  Jiesolved,  That  the  report  of 
J.  N.  Vraddel,  Chancellor,  of  September  22d,  18G9,  is  able, 
instructive,  and  comprehensive,  and  furnishes  evidence  of  an 
efficient  and  faithful  discharge  of  the  responsible  duties  of 
bis  mission. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  thi'ee  hundred  dollars  be  2:>aid 
by  the  Treasurer  to  the  Chancellor,  to  cover  his  expenses 
while  in  the  service  of  the  University  during  vacation-" 

In  explanation  of  the  last  resolution,  I  add  that  I  ren- 
dered, on  my  return,  a  strict  account  of  every  item  of  the 
actual  expense  incurred,  and  I  very  well  remember  that  my 
account  did  not  much  exceed  two  hundred  dollars.  But,  as 
I  was  informed  by  a  member  of  the  Board,  they  felt  that 
the  sendee  rendered  entitled  me  to  the  sum  named  in  the 
resolution  adoj^ted. 

I  had  submitted  the  substance  of  my  report  to  the  Fac- 


Change  ix  Curriculum.  479 

iilty,  and  it  liad  been  fully  discussed  previous  to  its  being- 
submitted  to  the  Board.  I  shall  not  record  the  entire  re- 
port, but  content  myself  with  a  mere  epitome  of  its  contents. 

After  stating  that  I  had  visited  the  University  of  Georgia, 
Harvard,  the  Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technology,  Am- 
herst College,  Yale  College,  "University  of  the  City  of  New 
York,  Princeton  College,  Erown  University,  and  the  Univer- 
sity of  Michigan,  and  that  I  had  failed  to  visit  Columbia 
College,  in  New  York,  on  account  of  the  absence  of  Dr.  Bar- 
nard in  Europe,  and  was  prevented,  by  circumstances,  from 
visiting  Cornell  University,  I  presented  for  the  consideration 
of  the  Board  what  was  then  the  plan  of  the  University  of 
Michigan,  and  the  plan  adopted  at  Harvard  University,  and 
some  others.  The  first  consists  of  three  general  depart- 
ments :  1,  The  Department  of  Science,  Literature,  and  the 
Arts;  2,  The  Department  of  Law;  3,  The  Department  of 
Medicine  and  Surqerv.  But  included  under  the  first  head 
are  no  less  than  six  different  courses  of  study ;  1,  The  Class- 
ical course ;  2,  The  Latin  and  Scientific  ;  3,  The  Scientific ; 
4,  The  course  of  Civil  Engineering  ;  5,  The  course  in  Mining 
Engineering ;  G,  The  course  in  Mechanical  Engineering. 
Besides  all  these  coiu'ses,  they  j^rovide  amply  for  a  regular 
course  in  Analytical  Chemistry. 

A  student,  in  order  to  attain  the  degree  of  B.  A.,  must 
take  all  the  studies  of  No.  1.  In  No.  2  Greek  is  omitted 
and  Modern  Languages  substituted.  In  No.  3  both  Greek 
and  Latin  are  omitted,  and  Science  and  IModern  Languages 
pursued.  Should  any  student  desire  a  selection  of  studies, 
he  will  be  allowed  to  pursue  his  choice  in  any  of  these  de- 
partments for  such  a  length  of  time  as  he  may  choose,  but 
he  cannot  attain  a  degree. 

The  other  plan  is  one  which,  to  some  extent,  accomplishes 
the  combination  of  the  university,  or  elective  scheme,  with 
the  close  college  curriculum.  This  consists  in  making  the 
close  sj^stem  obligatory  upon  the  student  who  is  a  candidate 
for  the  degree  of  B.  A.  only  to  a  certain  point  in  the  course. 


480  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

This  is  attained  at  the  close  of  one  of  the  classes  in  some 
institutions,  and  at  the  close  of  a  different  class  in  others. 
AVithout  giving  particulars,  it  'will  be  sufficient  to  state  that 
this  is  a  fair  description  of  the  second  plan,  where  the  com- 
pulsory and  elective  systems  are  combined. 

The  only  remaining  scheme  for  consideration  is  the  en- 
tirely open  system  in  operation  at  the  University  of  Yir* 
ginia. 

There  was  some  variance  in  the  views  and  preferences  of 
the  members  of  the  Faculty  when  I  read  my  report  to 
them  in  full  form.  The  majority  favored  the  plan  of  the 
University  of  Michigan,  and  it  was  finally  adopted  in  t'he 
"University  of  Mississippi,  with  such  modifications  as  were 
deemed  best  adapted  to  the  circumstances. 

It  may  be  stated  that  very  great  changes  have  taken  place 
in  the  general  plans  of  various  institutions  of  learning, 
North  and  South,  since  the  time  to  which  I  here  refer.  In 
regard  to  these  changes,  some  of  them  have  proved  to  be 
beneficial,  and  of  others  there  is  a  diversity  of  opinion  among 
educators.  In  some  of  the  very  best  of  our  schools  of  the 
higher  learning  co-education  has  been  introduced,  with  fine 
effect  in  certain  respects,  such  as  the  enlargement  of 
woman's  mental  culture  and  intellectual  vigor.  But  some 
have  shown  a  reluctance  to  its  introduction,  and  such  seem 
to  cling  to  the  ancien7ie  regime  with  great  tenacity,  wherein 
the  sexes  were  trained  separately  with  sedulous  care.  This 
change  has  occurred  in  the  institution  at  Oxford,  and  seems 
not  to  have  been  attended  with  any  injurious  results  to  the 
cause  of  education.  There  may  be,  however,  some  ground 
for  the  opinion  which  I  have  seen  expressed,  that  this  asso- 
ciation of  the  sexes  in  so  close  quarters  "  impaired  that  deli- 
cacy which  was  woman's  adornment."  Still,  such  an  im- 
provement as  this  had  not  been  inaugurated  at  the  time  of 
my  connection  with  the  University,  and  does  not  fall  pro- 
perly within  the  limits  which  I  have  prescribed  to  myself  as 
the  historian  of  its  progress. 


CHAPTEE  XLVIII. 

BtTRDEN  OF  EeSPONSIBILITT. — ChUECH  AND  StATE  IxSTITTTTTONS. — ATTI- 
TUDE OF  THE  UxiYERSITY  ToW'AKD  CHRISTIANITY. — FkEE  TuITIOX. — 

WoKK  Done  by  its  Gkaduates. — Historical  Addkess. — Degree 
OF  LL.  D.  Conferred  by  the  Uniyersity  of  Georgia. 

J  HAD  felt  for  some  time  a  pressure  of  tlie  resxDonsibility 
that  is  inseparable  from  the  position  which  I  occupied 
that  was  becoming  heavier  every  3'ear.     The  question  of 
duty  was  that  which  I  had  to  decide,  and  it  was  to  be  set- 
tled in  my  own  mind,  not  simply  upon  the  balancing  pro- 
cess, of  the  personal  ease,  or  difficulty  of  the  office  to  my- 
self, for  my  convictions  had  long  been  settled  that  this  is,  or 
should  be,   always  a  secondary   consideration.     The  main 
point  to  be  considered  certainly  is  in  what  position  are  men 
found  capable  of  the  greatest  usefulness  to  those  for  whom 
they  are  laboring.     If,  in  spheres  different  from  that  one 
occupied  by  them,  they  are  convinced  they  can  exert  an  in- 
fluence more  salutary  to  the  j)romotion  of  truth  and  vii'tue, 
and  the  advancement  of  the  true  interests  in  morals  and 
culture  of  those  around  them,    then  they  are  justified  in 
making  the  exchange.     But,  unless  this  can  be  made  mani- 
fest to  them  under  an  enlightened  conscience,  it  is  a  be- 
trayal of  solemn  trust  to  desert  a  post  of  honorable  useful- 
ness merely  because  to  hold  to  it,  and  discharge  its  obhga- 
tions  successfully,  involves  personal  discomfort  and  mental 
anxiety,  the  sacrifice  of  bodily  ease  and  enjoyment.     Still 
there  is  conceivable  such  a  state  of  things  as  a  combination 
of  one's  own  freedom  from  trouble,  and,  at  the  same  time,  a 
field  of  greater  usefulness  in  some  other  deiDartment  of  human 
effort  than  that  one  occupied  at  the  time.     It  is  true  that  I 
31  481 


482  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

liad  reached  the  point  in  my  administration  of  the  affairs  of 
the  Universify  which  seemed  to  be  favorable  to  its  future 
career.  I  felt  that  it  might  be  compared  to  a  ship  which, 
after  having  been  tossed  by  winds  and  waves  upon  a  bois- 
terous sea,  was  now  sailing  in  tranquil  waters,  and  that  the 
same  divine  Providence  which  had  been  at  the  helm  was  at 
hand  still  to  guide  and  control  all  the  elements,  and  make 
the  institution  a  blessing  to  the  church  and  the  world,  as 
He  had  done  in  its  past  history.  But  two  things  still  pre- 
sented themselves  to  my  mind  in  this  discussion : 

let.  Could  I  not  engage  in  some  other  employment  that 
would  be  attended  by  as  much  benefit,  and  result  in  as 
great  usefulness  to  the  church  and  to  the  world  as  the  work 
I  am  now  doing  in  the  University,  and  avoid  at  the  same 
time  the  wear  and  tear  of  body  and  mind  that  accompa- 
nies it. 

2d.  Is  it  best  for  me,  personall}^  that  I  have  so  close  a 
connection  in  my  work  with  the  political  affairs  of  the  State 
as  seems  necessary  by  the  fact  of  the  control  exercised  over 
the  University  by  the  State  ? 

My  meditation  on  this  subject  did  not  disturb  my  mind  to 
such  a  degree  as  to  bring  me  to  the  conclusion  that  I  ought 
to  leave  the  institution.  Still  I  felt  more  and  more  that  a 
release  from  the  burdensome  cares  and  anxieties  of  office 
would  relieve  me  greatly.  But  I  was  not  prepared  to  see 
the  path  of  duty  with  sufficient  clearness  to  take  any  deci- 
sive step,  either  in  one  or  the  other  direction,  contenting 
myself  with  making  no  mention  publicly  of  my  feelings  and 
"^'iews,  but  moving  on  in  the  ordinary  course  of  daily  duty. 

"With  regard  to  the  relation  existing  between  church  and 
state  education,  I  have  had  not  a  little  experience  in  the 
actual  working  of  these  two  agencies.  The  State  has  the 
means  whereby  the  very  best  arrangements  can  be  made  to 
conduct  the  business  of  education  in  the  most  extensive  and 
enlarged  system,  so  that,  if  the  controlling  powers  of  the 


Relations  Between  Church  and  Univee«ity.         483 

State  be  imbued  "vvith  tlie  wisest  and  best  principles  that 
sliould  constitute  the  great  subject  of  education  for  the 
youth  of  the  country,  it  possesses  the  power  to  perform  the 
work  successfully.  But  in  our  republic,  the  great  political 
principle  of  a  separation  of  church  and  state  is  understood 
by  our  people  to  extend  to  the  exclusion  of  religion  as  far  as 
possible  from  our  public  school  sj'stem ;  and,  as  our  people 
are  divided  into  many  different  denominations  of  Christian 
churches,  there  seems  to  be  a  jealousy  aroused  by  an  ap- 
parent favor  shown  to  one  or  another  of  these  sects,  when  a 
representative  is  put  in  office  in  the  Faculty  from  one 
rather  than  from  another.  In  order  to  do  away  with  this 
state  of  things,  some  institutions  prefer  excluding  any 
form  of  religious  teaching  whatever.  The  churches,  on  the 
other  hand,  have  felt  bound,  in  self-defence,  to  establish 
schools  and  colleges  of  their  own.  They  have,  all  over  the 
land,  good  institutions  of  every  church,  w^here  their  children 
are  trained  to  accept  the  doctrines  and  j)references  of  their 
fathers,  and  rehgious  instruction  in  form  is  amply  provided 
for  in  the  curriculum,  as  a  part  of  the  studies  called  for  in 
every  case.  But  then  the  churches  labor  under  one  of  two 
disadvantages  :  either  they  have  not  the  pecuniary  resources 
at  command  with  which  to  establish  such  institutions,  or  the 
private  members  of  these  churches  fail  to  come  up  with 
their  contributions.  There  is  a  lamentable  lack  of  V esprit 
du  corps ^  among  the  churches  of  the  South  at  least. 

The  University  of  Mississippi  has  not  been  chargeable 
with  any  disposition  whatever  to  exclude  Christianity  from 
its  system  of  instruction,  since  the  effort  attempted  by  some 
to  exclude  the  "  evidences  of  Christianity,"  and  the  policy 
of  "  excluding  all  ministers  from  office  in  the  Faculty,'* 
were  defeated,  both  of  them  in  the  origin  of  the  institution. 
There  is  a  remarkable  fact  in  its  history  which  ought  to  be 
recorded  to  its  credit.  It  has  been  the  alma  mater  of  a 
large  number  of  our  best  and  most  useful  ministers  of  the 


484  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D  ,  LL.  D. 

gospel,  and  little  or  no  interference  has  ever  been  experi- 
enced by  any  minister  "who  may,  from  time  to  time,  have 
held  office  in  its  corps  of  instructors,  in  his  ministerial  du- 
ties of  preaching  to  his  own  people. 

There  are  other  statements  to  be  made  on  this  subject 
equally  honorable  to  the  University,  and  which,  even  in  the 
earlier  days  of  its  comparatively  contracted  pecuniary  re- 
sources, were  made  public  in  its  printed  code  of  laws  under 
the  heading  of  provisions  for 

"  Free  Students. 

"  1.  Students  preparing  for  the  ministry  of  any  denomi- 
nation of  Christians  will  be  admitted  into  each  class,  with- 
out tuition  fee,  on  application  to  the  Faculty ;  but,  w^hen- 
ever  the  student  shall  abandon  such  intention,  or  shall  act 
in  a  manner  inconsistent  therewith,  the  fees  so  dispensed 
with  shall  be  considered  due. 

"  2.  Any  young  man  desirous  of  entering  the  University, 
but  unable  to  j)^y  foi'  tuition,  will  be  admitted  by  the 
Faculty  without  fee,  on  standing  the  regular  examination, 
and  jDroducing  certificates  of  good  moral  character,  and  of  his 
inability  to  i^ay ;  such  certificates  to  be  signed  by  some  resi- 
dent minister,  or  the  principal  of  some  academy  in  the 
neighborhood  from  which  he  comes. 

"3.  In  both  cases,  strict  secrecy  will  be  observed,  and 
and  there  will  be  no  difference  in  the  treatment  of  different 
classes  of  students. 

"  4.  A  student  from  each  senatorial  district  in  the  State 
will  be  admitted  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Boards 
of  Police,  tuition  free.  The  admission  shall  be  termed  a 
scholarship,  and  shall  be  the  reward  of  merit." 

I  repeat  that  this  provision  for  free  tuition  was  made  at  a 
time  when  the  University  was  cramped  for  the  means  of 
maintaining  the  full  responsibilities  of  her  position  as  a 
school  of  the  higher  learning,  and  for  fully  meeting  the  ex- 


Alumni  of  the  Uniyeesity.  485 

pectations  of  the  people  of  the  State.  But  one  step  after 
another  was  gradually  taken  by  the  authorities,  until  ulti- 
mately tuition  was  declared  free  to  all  students,  not  only  of 
the  State  of  MississijDpi,  but  of  the  world. 

Moreover,  although  a  State  institution,  under  all  its  trials 
and  difficulties,  it  has  so  far  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the 
Tarious  churches  as  to  have  furnished  the  preliminary  train- 
ing in  their  literary  and  scientific  course  for  seventy-three 
ministers  of  the  gospel  (one  of  whom  is  a  bishop  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Dr.  Galloway),  within  the  first 
forty  years  of  its  existence  and  operation. 

Nor  has  this  institution  failed  in  giving  to  the  world 
others  from  its  training  who  have  filled  honorably  the 
various  spheres  of  usefulness  in  almost  every  department  of 
public  effort.  The  Alumni  of  the  University  have  filled  the 
highest  positions  in  the  judiciary  of  the  State,  and  in  the 
legislative  halls,  and  in  all  the  professions.  "  Last,  though 
by  no  means  least,"  her  graduates  are  recorded  among  the 
incumbents  who  successively  have  filled  the  place  of  Trus- 
tees, and  they  have  occupied  the  chairs  of  instruction  in  al- 
most every  department  of  her  established  course.  Among 
these  we  find  one  Chancellor,  four  full  Professors,  one 
Acting  Professor,  seven  Adjunct  Professors,  and  thirty 
tutors;  in  all  forty-three,  who  were  once  receiving  instruc- 
tion, and  who  subsequently  were  called  to  occupy  the  seats 
whence  they  so  acceptabl}^  and  honorably  imparted  it  to 
many  others.  Long  may  the  University  keep  its  record 
bright,  and  be  a  blessing  in  the  future,  as  it  has  been  in  the 
past,  to  both  State  and  church  !  I  feel  that  I  should  say 
thus  much  in  justice  to  this  State  institution,  whose  policy 
has  been  known  to  me  from  its  origin. 

Yet,  returning  to  myself,  I  simply  add  that,  while  I  had 
never  been  trammeled  by  its  authorities  in  any  ministerial 
work,  I  felt,  as  I  grew  older,  that  I  ought  to  be  more  closely 
identified  with  my  own  church.     I  continued,  however,  to 


486  John  N.  AVaddell,  D.  D.  LL.  D. 

"work,  amid  much  anxiety  and  under  some  discouragements 
on  account  of  disorders  among  our  students,  and  with  some 
apprehensions  from  dissatisfied  poHticians,  until  the  year 
1873-74. 

The  Commencement  occurring  in  June,  1873,  was  the 
quarter  century  of  the  organization  of  the  University.  On 
that  occasion  (by  request  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  the 
year  previous)  I  dehvered  a  historical  discourse  to  a  large 
audience,  on  Wednesday,  June  25th,  on  which  occasion  the 
following  action  was  taken  by  the  Board  of  Trustees: 

"University  of  Mississippi, 
Oxford,  1873. 

"  Wednesday,  June  23th,  being  the  twenty -fifth  anniver- 
sary of  the  organization  of  this  institution,  a  historical  dis- 
course was  delivered,  by  invitation  of  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
by  the  Chancellor,  Eev.  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  after  which 
the  Board  unanimously  adopted  the  following  resolutions  r 

"Resolved,  That  Chancellor  Waddel  is  entitled  to  the 
thanks  of  every  friend  of  the  University  for  the  splendid 
oration  delivered  by  him  on  yesterday.  That  his  able  and 
conclusive  vindication  of  the  University  against  the  assaults 
of  all  its  enemies  insj^ires  the  Board  of  Trustees  with  re- 
newed hope  of  making  this  noble  institution  the  pride  and 
glory  of  Mississippians,  and  their  posterity  forever. 

''Resolved,  That  the  Chancellor  be  respectfully  requested 
to  place  his  oration  at  our  disposal  for  publication,  and  that 
five  hundred  copies  of  the  same  be  printed. 

''Resolved,  That  there  now  being  new  material  enough 
for  one  volume  of  the  history  of  the  University,  our  be- 
loved Chancellor  be  earnestly  requested  to  prepare  the 
same  for  publication  at  as  early  a  day  as  he  conveniently  can." 

I  was,  of  course,  gratified  by  the  foregoing  reception  my 
discourse  met  with  at  the  hands  of  the  Board,  but  my  time 


The  Degree  of  LL.  D.  Conferred  487 

was  so  fully  occupied  by  daily  duties  ^vllicll  pressed  upon 
me  that  I  found  no  time  to  write  the  histoiy. 

It  was  at  the  annual  Commencement  of  this  year,  m  the 
month  of  August,  that  I  received  from  my  alma  mater,  the 
rniversity  of  Georgia,  at  Athens,  the  unsolicited  and  unex- 
pected honor  of  Doctor  of  Laws   (LL.   !>•).     This   I    of 
course,  regarded  as  pecuharly  complimentary,  from  the  fact 
that,  from  the  origin  of  the  University  in  1801  to  the  year 
1873-iust  seventv-two  years  of  its  existence— I  was  tne^ 
seventh  instance  k  its  having  been  conferred.     The  names 
opposite  to  which  these  initial  letters  stand  recorded  on  the. 
Centennial  Catalogue  are  the  following: 

Hon.  Wm.  H.  Crawford,  in  1821. 

Hon.  George  McDuffie,  in  1843.^ 

Hon.  John  McPherson  Berrien,  in  1850, 

Hon.  Eugenius  A.  Nisbet,  in  1868. 

Dr.  L.  a.  Dugas,  in  1869. 

Hon.  L.  Q.  C.  Lamar,  ia  1870. 

Bev.  J.  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  in  1873. 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 

GsNERAii  Assembly  of  1868. — Elected  Moderatoe. — Proceedings, — 
Educational  Convention. — Director  of  Church  University. — 
Kesults  of  Two  Meetings.  — Meeting  of  The  General  Assem- 
bly in  1864. — Elected  Secretary  of  Education.  —  Resignation. 

THE  reader  of  these  pages  must  bear  in  mind  that  my 
public  life  has  been  of  a  two-fold  character.  I  have 
been  exercising  the  somewhat  analogous  functions  of  a 
ieacher  and  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  It  has  been  found 
necessary,  therefore,  that  this  narrative  should,  from  time 
to  time,  be  interrupted  in  its  record  of  my  life,  as  it  pro- 
gressed along  one  of  these  lines  of  "work,  in  order  to  bring 
the  two  together  at  some  synchronous  point.  I  find  myself 
just  now  at  one  of  those  periods,  during  thej^ear  1874,  when, 
after  having  been  released  from  official  connection  with  the 
General  Assembly  as  stated  clerk,  by  resignation,  my  labors 
were  confined  to  the  University,  over  which  I  had  been  called 
to  preside  in  1865,  save  that  I  continued  to  preach  at  Ox- 
ford aud  at  other  churches  as  I  found  opportunity.  If  this, 
then,  be  a  matter  of  interest,  I  will  recur  to  the  transaction 
in  which  I  was  interested,  and  in  some  of  which  I  was  an 
actor  during  the  interval  of  nine  busy  years,  from  1865  to 
1874. 

I  had  the  ajopointment  of  Commissioner  to  the  General 
Assembly  that  met  in  Baltimore  in  May,  1868,  and  I  found 
it  a  most  agreeable  recreation  to  withdraw  for  a  brief  space 
from  the  heavy  and  exacting  pressure  of  daily  labor,  to  en- 
joy once  more  the  society  of  my  esteemed  and  beloved 
brethren,  and  to  take  again  some  part  in  the  dehberations  of 

the  church. 

488 


The  General  Assembly  of  1868.  489 

I  left  home  in  Oxford  on  Monday,   May  IS,  1868,  and 
Teached  Baltimore  in  due  time,  where  I  met  many  of  the 
brethren  who  had  been  my  associates  during  the  troublous 
Avar  times,  and  whom  I  had  not  seen  since.     I  was  unex- 
pectedly made  moderator  of  the  Assembly;  and  I  may  be 
permitted  to  remark  that,  while  I  was  not  aware  of  making 
any  very  signal  blunders  in  parliamentary  law  and  order,  I 
attribute  my  moderate  success  to  the  fact,   under  Divine 
favor,  that  our  church  south  had  then  been  in  her  separate 
existence  for  so  short  a  period  as  not  to  have  accumulated 
business  out  of  which  might  possibly  have  arisen  complica- 
tions of  interpretation  by  ecclesiastical  lawyers.    The  Assem- 
bly w^as  visited  on  this  occasion  b}-  a  delegation  of  ministers 
from  the  Synod  of  Kentucky,  the  chairman  of  which  was 
Eev.  E.  S.  Breck,  T>.  D.,  and  my  impression  is  now  that 
Eev.  Samuel  E.  ^Yilson,  T>.  D.,  was  his  associate.  Dr.  Breck, 
on  the  second  day  of  the  meeting,   "delivered  an  address 
conveying  the  assurance  of  the  kind  feeling,  sympathy  and 
confidence  "  of  the  Synod  of  Kentucky,  to  which  I,  as  mode- 
rator, responded.     The  Synod  extended  an  invitation  to  our 
body  to  hold  their  next  meeting  in  Louisville,  Ky.     But  the 
Assembly  declined  to  accept  it,  as  it  was  "judged  inexpe- 
dient, under  present  circumstances."     Yet  a  commissioner, 
with  an  alternate,  was  "  appointed  to  conve}-  to  the  Synod 
of  Kentucky  the  salutations  of  the  Assembly."     Eev.  J.  A. 
Lefevre  was  appointed  principal,  and  Eev.  E.  AY.  Bedinger 
his  alternate. 

After  the  usual  routine  of  business  was  finished,  the  As- 
sembly adjourned  on  Wednesday,  May  27th,  after  a  pleasant 
session  of  just  six  days,  to  meet  on  the  third  Thursday  in 
May,  1869,  in  Mobile,  Alabama.  The  number  of  commis- 
sioners present  on  that  occasion  was  ninety-five,  of  which 
number  there  were  fifty  ministers  and  forty-five  ruling 
elders.  The  total  of  ministers  then  belonging  to  the  South- 
ern church  was  786 ;  and  the  membership  numbered  76,949. 


490  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

In  1890,  twenty-two  3-ears  later,  there  were  1,179  ministers,. 
and  of  communicants  108,791  were  in  connection  with  our 
Southern  church,  making  an  increase  of  393  ministers,  and 
91,849  communicants.  We  had  in  1868,  licentiates,  51 ; 
candidates,  92.  In  1890  we  had  66  licentiates  and  336  can- 
didates. Some  w4io  were  j)resent  in  Baltimore,  in  active 
"work,  have  closed  their  labors  on  earth,  and  have  entered 
into  their  everlasting  rest.  Of  the  eighteen  w  ho  have  left 
us,  we  number  such  consecrated  and  godly-minded  workers 
as  John  Leighton  Wilson  and  Dr.  T.  V.  Moore,  with  many 
as  dear  to  the  survivors,  but  not  so  prominent  in  the  church. 
My  own  eye  rests  upon  two  names  of  peculiar  interest  to  my 
memory;  one  is  the  aged  minister  of  Christ,  Rev.  David 
Humphreys,  of  South  Carolina,  my  first  teacher,  to  whom  I 
have  already  referred  in  the  first  chapter  of  this  memoir. 
The  other  is  my  nephew.  Prof.  "Wm.  H.  Waddel,  of  the 
University  of  Georgia,  an  elder-commissioner  from  Pres- 
bytery of  Augusta,  one  of  the  most  accomplished  scholars  of 
his  time,  who  died  in  1878,  just  ten  years  later,  of  heart 
affection, 

I  notice  just  here,  that  at  the  Commencement  exercises  of 
the  University  of  Mississippi,  there  was  graduated  the  sec- 
ond class  after  the  close  of  the  war,  consisting  of  twenty-four, 
among  whom  I  sadly  recall  my  eldest  son,  who  became  a 
minister,  and  after  a  consecrated  service  of  about  seven 
years,  passed  away,  in  1885. 

I  attended  the  meeting  of  the  Assembly  in  1869,  in  Mo- 
bile, the  record  of  which  is  found  in  the  printed  minutes  of 
that  body,  Vol.  II.  My  connection  with  the  public  history 
of  the  church  is  not  on  record  at  all,  except  as  a  minister 
enrolled  as  S.  S.  from  year  to  year,  at  Oxford,  Miss.,  until 
the  year  1874.  Previous  to  that  year,  however,  at  a  meeting 
of  the  General  Assembly,  held  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  after  the 
union  of  the  Synod  of  Kentucky  had  been  perfected  w^ith  the 
Southern  Assembly  in  Mobile,  an  educational  convention  was 


A  Presbyterian  University.  491 

called,  to  meet  in  Huntsville,  Ala.,  in  1871;  and  the  Presby- 
teries were  notified  to  empower  their  commissioners  to  act 
as  members  of  that  convention.  Of  that  convention  I  was 
empowered  to  act  as  a  member,  in  behalf  of  the  Presbj-tery 
of  Chickasaw,  The  conception  of  holding  this  convention 
originated  with  Eev.  James  A.  Lyon,  D.  D.,  and  the  idea  at 
the  basis  of  the  convention  was  to  discuss  and,  if  piossible, 
adopt  the  plan  of  establishing  one  grand  University  for  the 
whole  church  South,  to  be  under  the  care  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian people.  The  convention  was  composed  of  a  number  of 
our  ablest  ministei:3  and  ruling  elders,  and  the  whole  sub- 
ject was  most  thoroughly  canvassed.  The  scheme  did  not 
prove  acceptable  to  some  of  our  brethren,  upon  the  ground 
that  they  were  amply  provided  in  their  region  of  the  country 
with  the  means  of  education  already,  and  while  wishing 
Godspeed  to  those  who  favored  this  concert  of  action,  they 
declined  participation  in  the  enterprise.  Not  regarding  this 
as  a  defeat,  the  matter  held  fast  hold  upon  their  minds  as 
something  not  to  be  surrendered,  but  to  be  develojDed  in  full 
efficiency,  even  though  on  a  more  limited  scale.  "Cast 
down,"  they  were,  but  by  no  means  "destroyed."  Of  that 
convention  I  was  honored  by  being  made  chairman,  and  a 
public  address  was  adopted  by  the  convention  and  scattered 
broadcast  throughout  the  southwest,  suggesting  that  con- 
tiguous Synods  unite,  and  thus  supply,  by  co-operation,  what 
no  single  one  could  furnish  alone.  This  suggestion  was  in- 
dustriously and  successfully  pressed  and  elaborated  by  Eev. 
Dr.  Shearer,  then  President  of  Stewart  College,  at  Clarks- 
ville,  Tenn.  "  A  meeting  of  commissioners  from  five  Synods 
was  held  in  May,  1873,  and  a  plan  was  then  adopted,  and 
in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  commissioners  were  sent 
from  the  Synods  of  Alabama,  Ai'kansas,  Memphis,  Missis- 
sippi and  Nashville  (and  Texas  afterwards  joined  the  asso- 
ciation), who  adopted  a  plan  of  union,  and  all  the  six  Synods 
agreed  upon  it ;  and  each  one  of  thorn  apjDointed  two  direc* 


492  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

tors,  to  ineet  in  January,  1874,  and  take  charge  of  the  enter- 
j)rise." 

Among  these,  I  was  chosen  a  director  in  1873,  while  still 
•Chancellor  of  the  Universit}',  without  my  knowledge,  and, 
accordingly,  with  the  other  directors,  I  attended  a  meeting 
in  Memphis  in  January,  1874. 

There  were  many  apj^hcations  before  the  board  at  this 
meeting,  for  the  location  of  the  university  proposed  to  be 
organized;  and  Eev.  Dr.  Break  also  was  present,  urging  us 
to  unite  with  Kentucky  in  establishing  a  university  in  some 
central  locality ;  but,  after  a  patient  hearing  of  many  speak- 
ers, the  board  adjourned,  to  hold  another  meeting  in  May, 
1874,  at  which  time  they  proposed  to  receive  propositions 
for  the  location  from  all  who  were  willing  to  make  them,  and 
to  transact  any  other  matters  of  business  that  might  come 
before  them,  to  be  settled  with  a  view  to  the  organization  of 
the  university  at  the  earliest  period  consistent  with  the  true 
interests  involved.  This  second  meeting  was  held  at  the 
time  appointed,  in  Memphis,  and,  after  a  careful  examina- 
tion of  all  the  proposals  from  various  communities,  "  the 
board  selected  Clarksville  as  the  location,  and  Stewart  Col- 
lege, with  its  funds  and  appurtenances,  as  the  nucleus  of 
future  operations.  The  former  Faculty  of  Stewart  College 
was  continued  provisionally,  and  the  institution  was  kept  in 
oj)eration  on  the  same  scale  as  heretofore,  until  such  time 
as  the  way  might  be  open  for  the  formal  organization  of  the 
university  proper.  I  attended  this  meeting,  also,  and  took 
part  in  all  the  deliberations.  Among  other  important  sub- 
jects acted  upon  by  the  board  at  this  meeting,  the  election  of 
a  chancellor  was  projDosed,  and  the  unanimous  voice  of  the 
the  members  called  to  this  ofiice  of  trust  the  Rev.  B.  M.  Pal- 
mer, D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  thus  manifesting  that  their  minds  were 
inspired  with  hope  and  expectation  of  success  in  the  erec- 
tion of  a  university  on  the  most  elevated  scale. 

It  was  during  the  month  of  May,  1874,  that  at  the  regu- 


Committee  of  Education.  493^ 

lar  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly  in  Columbus,  Miss., 
the  annual  report  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  Educa- 
tion Avas  presented  by  the  Standing  Committee  of  the 
Assembly  in  the  following  language: 

"  The  Secretary  (Dr.  E.  T.  Baird)  states  that,  since  the 
organization  of  the  committee,  there  has  been  no  year  of  its 
history  which  has  been  attended  ^Yith  so  many  circum- 
stances to  cause  anxiety  and  to  produce  painful  mortifica- 
tion. The  year  commenced  vrith  a  deficiency  of  $2,900." 
The  chairman  then  continues  to  report  several  facts  besides 
this  deficiency,  the  second  of  which  is  t'lat  "  a  number  of 
students  have  left  the  seminary  or  college,  and  resorted 
to  secular  business  to  supjDort  themselves."  Then,  after  (in 
the  language  of  Dr.  Baird)  stating  that  "the  committee, 
through  circulars  issued  by  the  secretary,  had  exhausted 
its  ability  to  urge  this  matter  on  the  attention  of  the 
churches,"  the  chairman  of  the  standing  committee  adds 
the  fourth  discouraging  fact  to  be,  that,  "after  all  these 
urgent  appeals,  there  is  a  deficiency  of  $4,000." 

The  recommendations  of  the  standing  committee  are 
that,  "in  view  of  the  whole  case,"  the  Assembly  should 
adopt  one  or  the  other  of  the  two  following  courses  : 

"  (1),  Abolish  the  Committee  of  Education  altogether,  and 
throw  the  support  of  the  candidates  upon  the  Presbyteries ; 
or  (2),  separate  the  causes  of  Education  and  Pubhcation, 
elect  an  additional  secretary,  and  locate  him  at  some  central 
point  in  the  "West." 

They  gave  the  highest  testimonial  in  the  report  to  Dr. 
Baird,  the  secretary,  as  an  "efficient  and  suitable  man  for 
the  work  of  secretary,  and  expressed  the  gratification  it 
would  afford  them  "  to  see  his  great  energies,  experience 
and  wisdom  fully  engaged  in  this  pre-eminently  important 
W'Ork  of  beneficiary  education." 

After  tho  Assembly  had  selected  Memphis  as  the  location 
of  the  committee,  instead  of  abolishing  it,  "the  following 
was  ado^Dted"; 


494:  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

"Jlesolved,  That  tlie  following  ]Dersons  be  elected  the 
Executive  Committee  of  Education  for  the  ensuing  year; 
Eev.  John  X.  "Waddel,  D.  D.,  Secretary;  James  Elder, 
Treasurer ;  J.  O.  Stedmen,  D.  D.,  Eev.  "W.  E.  Boggs,  Eev. 
E.  M.  Eichardsou,  Eev.  A.  Shotwell,  M.  E.  Jarnagin,  B.  M. 
Estes,  J.  B.  Griffing,  W.  AY.  Armstrong,  and  A.  C.  Ewell." 

This  all  occurred  during  the  last  session  of  my  term  of 
service  as  Chancellor  of  the  University  of  Mississippi.  I 
did  not,  indeed,  seek  the  office,  but  I  was  not  entirely  taken 
by  surprise,  as  some  such  intimations  had  fallen  upon  my 
ear,  and  had  to  some  extent  been  passing  through  my  mind. 
The  subject  of  resigning  my  office,  as  I  have  already  stated, 
had  begun  to  occupy  my  thoughts,  and  the  question  of  duty 
had  led  me  to  the  throne  of  grace  and  wisdom  for  divine 
guidance  in  its  proper  solution.  But,  up  to  the  period  of 
June  26th,  1874,  I  had  been  able  to  reach  no  decision  that 
seemed  satisfactory  to  my  judgment  on  this  important  mat- 
ter. The  annual  Commencement  exercises  were  finished  on 
Thursday,  25th,  yet  the  Board  of  Trustees  had  not  con- 
cluded all  the  business,  but  were  to  hold  their  last  meeting 
and  close  up  their  work  on  Friday,  26th.  I  awoke  very  early 
on  the  morning  of  that  day,  and  realizing  the  relief  which  was 
consequent  upon  the  successful  winding  up  of  another  toil- 
some year's  work,  my  heart  w^ent  up  in  grateful  thanksgiv- 
ing to  the  Giver  of  all  good,  and  in  prayer  for  divine  guid- 
ance for  the  future.  In  what  I  am^  about  to  record,  I  am 
a  ware  that  I  may  incur  the  charge  of  infatuation,  on  the  part 
of  those  w^ho  do  not  hold  the  same  views  upon  the  doctrine 
of  Divine  Erovidence  that  I  hold;  but  I  shall  be  found  to  be 
entirely  in  congenial  accord  with  every  one  who  believes  in 
the  consolatory  doctrine  of  answered  prayer.  I  had  a  per- 
ception just  the?!,  such  as  I  had  felt  on  only  two  previous 
occasions  in  my  life,  of  a  ray  of  Hght  entering  my  mind,  as 
I  made  the  decision  to  tender  my  resignation;  after  which 
I  found    all   my  hesitancy    and   uncertainty    at.  an    end. 


Resignation  of  the  Chancellorship.  495 

There  was  no  sucU  feeling  as  excitement,  but  a  calm  and 
peaceful  acquiescence  in  >Yhat  I  felt  convinced  was  the  will 
of  God  in  regard  to  my  duty.  It  will  serve  to  heighten  the 
interest  of  this  case  that  I  state  the  fact  that  at  the  Chan- 
cellor's annual  reception  on  that  occasion,  during  Com- 
mencement week,  the  Trustees  were  present,  and  among  them 
those  who  belonged  to  the  Republican  j^arty.  As  I  sincerely 
desired  to  have  them  feel  at  home,  and  enjoy  the  evening,  I 
made  it  a  point  that  ought  to  be  observed,  to  have  these 
gentlemen  introduced  to  the  ladies  who  were  present.  I, 
.at  the  same  time,  took  the  precaution  to  ascertain  the  per- 
sonal sentiment  of  the  ladies  in  this  regard,  and  ascertain 
whether  it  would  be  agreeable  to  them  to  be  presented  in 
this  way,  and  this  I  did  without  the  slightest  intimation  to 
the  Trustees  themselves.  Every  lady  whom  I  approached 
declined  very  quietly,  but  very  promptly.  These  gentlemen, 
(I  was  informed  by  a  party  present  in  company  with  them), 
resented  this  neglect,  and  laid  the  entire  blame  to  my 
charge,  considering  it  a  tacit  jpur^Dose  on  my  part,  and  a 
j)ractical  indignity  done  to  themselves.  It  was  just  one  of 
those  unavoidable  occurrences  one  is  called  to  encounter 
sometimes  in  society,  which  could  not  be  explained  without 
making  matters  vrorse ;  so  I  said  nothing  to  any  one  about 
it.  But  as  I  heard  of  the  fact  as  stated  above,  I  confess 
that,  while  under  other  circumstances  their  dissatisfaction 
would  not  have  influenced  my  action  at  all,  it  had  the  effect 
of  simply  confirming  my  decision  already  reached,  to  tender 
my  resignation.  This  I  did  immediately  on  the  assembling 
of  the  Board  at  their  ofiice,  after  breakfast.  My  v.ritten 
resignation  was  very  brief,  only  conveying  to  the  board  the 
fact  in  words  enough  to  answer  the  purpose,  without  the 
assignment  of  any  reason  for  my  course. 

]My  resignation  w^as  x^laced  in  the  hands  of  a  sj^ecial 
friend  of  mine  (one  of  the  Trustees),  and  hardly  ten  minutes 
iiad  elapsed  when  I  was  smnmoned  to  appear  before  them 


496  JonN  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

to  explain.  My  reasons  were  demanded  not  in  any  un- 
friendly manner  at  all,  but  ^Yith  evident  disappointment,  and 
apparent,  and  (I  believe  on  the  part  of  the  majority)  real 
regret  and  surprise.  Protestations  of  the  warmest  friend- 
ship, and  most  perfect  confidence,  were  made  by  members 
of  the  Board,  and  thev  were  manifestly  all  of  them  unwillinir 
to  accept  my  resignation.  I  made  a  speech  to  them  iu 
which  I  offered  two  considerations  as  my  justification  for 
the  course  pursued:  1,  The  heavy  pressure  of  responsibility 
resting  upon  me  in  the  multiplicity  of  details  of  duty  in 
which  I  had  and  (from  the  nature  of  the  case)  could  have 
little  or  no  alleviation ;  2,  The  fact  that  I  had  been  devoting 
most  of  my  working  days  to  the  service  of  the  world  at 
large,  and  only  a  few  of  my  years  to  the  service  of  the 
church;  that  I  lacked  but  eight  3'ears  now  of  the  limit  of 
human  life  assigned  in  God's  appointment,  and  I  felt  that 
those  eight  years,  and  whatever  additional  years  I  might 
have,  ought  to  be  spent  in  doing  work  for  my  chiu'ch.  The 
result  was  that  they  resolved  to  adjourn  for  one  month,  and 
refused,  in  the  moantime,  to  accept  my  resignation,  with  the 
hope  that  I  would  reconsider  the  subject,  and  withdraw  it. 
I  may  as  well  dispose  of  this  part  of  my  history  by  recording 
that,  at  the  appointed  time  to  which  they  had  adjourned, 
they  re-assembled,  and  finding  me  still  resolute  in  my  pur- 
pose, they  accepted  my  resignation,  and  proceeded  to  elect 
to  the  vacated  office,  Lieutenant-General  Alexander  P.  Stew- 
art as  my  successor. 


CHAPTER   L. 

Matukikg  My  Views  as  to  Accepting  the  Office  of  Seceetaey  op 
Education.— Advised  Against  It.— Foemal  Acceptance.  —  Sup- 
ply OP  A  Chuech. — A  DiFFEEENCE.  — Decision  op  the  Question 
BY  THE  Assembly. —Epidemic  op  Yellow  Fever.- Joined  the- 
Pkesbyteey  op  IVIemphis. 

I  HAD  not  decided  even  then  to  accept  tlie  Secretaryship 
of  xi^ducation.     I,  however,  felt  that  it  was  highly  j)i'oba- 
l)le  that  I  should  coine  to  that  conclusion  ultimately,  as  it 
appeared  to  me  that  it  opened  before  me  a  field  of  abundant 
usefulness  to  the  church,  and  that  I  should  be  freed  from 
t]iose  peculiar  forms  of  responsibility  inherent  in  college 
and  university  work,  especially  where  the  institution  is  the 
j)roperty  of  the  State.     I  assumed  it,  as  the  most  natural 
state  of  things,  that  I  should  find  congenial  employment 
in   laboring   to   build   up   the  interests   of   the   Southern 
church,  sustained,  as  I  should  be,  by  my  brethren  who  had 
called  me  to  the  position.     It  may  be  just  as  well  for  me  to 
state  that,  in  a  correspondence  held  previous  to  my  leaving 
the  University  wtih  one  of  my  warmest  friends,  and  one  of 
the  most  judicious  advisers — a  distinguished  minister  of  our 
church — it  was  suggested  to  me  that  it  might  not  prove  ta 
be  so  favorable  a  change  of  occupation  as  it  seemed  to  bo. 
He  gave  as  objectionable  to  any  of   these  secretaryships, 
that  they  were,  all  of  them,  more  or  less  the  subjects   of 
criticism  and  fault-finding  from  the  churches  and  muiisters 
throughout  the  countr}-,  and  that  it  would  be  by  no  means, 
as  free  from  trouble  as  I  had  imagined  it  to  be.     Yet,  w^hile 
I  felt  that  he  was  actuated  by  the  purest  motives  and  the 
most  (Sincere  regard  for  me,  I  did  not  agree  with  him  in  his 
32  497 


498  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

views ;  but  in  August  I  visited  Memphis,  and,  at  a  meeting 
of  the  newly-appointed  Executive  Committee  of  Education, 
I  formally  accepted  the  office  of  secretaiy,  and  removed  in 
November  to  Memphis,  rented  a  house,  and  at  once  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  the  office  with  zeal  and  earnestness, 
relying  upon  the  great  Head  of  the  church  to  guide,  uphold 
and  sustain  me  in  all  my  efforts  to  do  His  work. 

Eeferring  to  the  action  of  the  Assembly  at  Columbus, 
Miss.,  in  May  previous,  I  found  that  the  duties  of  the 
secretary  were  prescribed  in  language  following,  viz.:  "It 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary,  in  addition  to  visiting 
the  Presbyteries  and  Synods  for  the  purpose  of  raising 
funds,  to  act  as  a  medium,  of  communication  between  our 
•candidates  and  the  Presbyteries,  for  the  j^urpose  of  secur- 
ing prompt  and  remunerative  employment  for  our  candi- 
dates during  their  vacations."  (See  Minutes  of  General 
Assembly  for  1874,  i^age  515,  paragraph  4,  of  Eeport  of 
Standing  Committee.)  To  tliis  I  endeavored  to  apply 
myself  at  once,  visiting  the  four  SjTiods  of  Missouri  on 
October  17th ;  of  Arkansas,  on  the  24th  ;  of  Texas,  on  the 
4th  of  November ;  and  of  Kentuck}^  on  the  12th  of  Novem- 
ber, and  making  addresses  before  all  of  these  bodies,  I 
very  soon  found  that  the  cause  of  beneficiary  education 
"was  among  the  most  unpoj)ular  of  all  the  four  objects  of 
•church  benevolence.  As  an  illustration  of  this  fact,  I  made 
nn  honest  effort  at  the  Assembly  of  May,  1875,  that  met  in 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  to  j)revail  upon  some  of  our  most  eloquent 
preachers  to  address  the  Synod  of  Missouri  on  the  evening 
set  apart  by  resolution  of  the  Assembly  for  a  general  meet- 
ing to  discuss  the  subject,  and  as  I  failed  utterly  to  obtain 
the  consent  of  all  I  approached  to  do  that  service,  I  had  the 
matter  re-considered,  and  no  such  meeting  was  held  at  all. 
Nor  was  any  such  meeting,  for  the  benefit  of  that  cause, 
ever  held  at  any  session  of  the  General  Assembly  during  my 
term  of  service  as  secretary.     Year  after  year  came  up  to 


Beneficiary  Education  Unpopular.  499 

the  Assembly  propositions  to  do  away  with  the  Executive 
Committee  of  Education  entirely,  and  to  relegate  the  busi- 
ness of  beneficiary  training  and  support  to  the  various 
Presbyteries.  This  continued  as  long  as  I  was  engaged  in 
the  service  of  the  church,  and  at  the  meeting  of  the  Assem- 
bly in  Louis^-ille,  Ky.,  in  1879,  which  was  the  last  time  I 
ever  attended  as  secretary,  there  was  an  effort  made  by 
dissatisfied  parties  to  do  away  with  this  committee  as  a 
separate  agency,  and  combine  it  with  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee of  Home  Missions,  under  the  secretary  in  charge  of 
the  latter.  It  was  not  presented  before  the  Assembly,  but 
I  mention  it  to  show  the  difficulties  encountered  by  the 
Executive  Committee  of  Education.  Let  me  dismiss  this 
subject  by  referring  to  the  noble  and  exhaustive  report, 
which  was  the  work  of  a  committee  consisting  of  Kev.  Jos. 
B.  Stratton,  T>.  D.,  Rev.  Stuart  Robinson,  D.  D.,  and  Ruling 
Elder  John  L.  Marye,  of  Virginia,  the  object  of  which  was, 
according  to  Overture  No.  8,  "  to  consider  the  propriety  of 
abandoning  the  present  scheme  of  education,  and  remand- 
ing this  subject  to  the  Presbyteries."  The  Committee  on 
Bills  and  Overtures,  in  reporting  upon  this  overture,  "  re- 
commended that,  as  the  overture  contemplates  a  radical 
change  in  the  policy  of  the  church,  a  committee  of  two 
ministers  and  one  elder  be  appointed  to  consider  the  subject 
maturely,  and  to  collect  the  sense  of  the  church  by  corres- 
pondence, and  report  to  the  next  General  Assembly." 

This  report  was  written  by  Dr.  J.  B.  Stratton,  and  pre- 
sented to  the  Assembly  at  the  meeting  in  Savannah,  Ga.,  in 
1876.  It  was  published  by  order  of  the  Assembly,  and  will 
be  found  in  the  Appendix,  in  extenso,  on  pages  278-285,  in- 
clusive. This  report  had  the  desired  effect,  as  the  Executive 
Committee  is  still  the  accredited  agency  of  the  Assembly  in 
conducting  the  business  of  beneficiary  education,  but  by  no 
means  interfering  with  the  preferences  of  any  Presbytery 
adopting  an  independent  plan.     But  other  difficulties  came 


500  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D,  LL.  D. 

on  after  awhile,  which  were  wholly  unexpected  by  myself^ 
I  wdll  refer  to  one  of  them  as  a  matter  of  history,  designing 
not  the  slightest  reflection  upon  any  of  the  parties  concerned. 
Soon  after  my  entrance  upon  the  duties  of  Secretary  of  Edu- 
cation, I  was  invited  to  take  charge,  as  Stated  Supply,  of  a 
little  mission  chapel,  and  to  give  to  it  only  just  that  amoimt  of 
time  and  attention  which  could  be  spared  from  the  duties 
of  the  secretaryship.  This  was  distinctly  specified,  and, 
with  that  understanding  I  agreed  to  serve  the  httle  chapel. 
But  the  majority  of  the  committee  looked  at  the  matter  with 
very  different  views,  and  disapproved  of  the  arrangement. 
At  first,  I  felt  disposed  to  give  up  my  engagement  with  the 
church,  but,  upon  second  thought,  I  decided  to  preach  to 
them  for  the  time.  After  a  fair  trial  of  the  question  of  con- 
flict between  the  office  and  the  church,  finding  that  I  could 
perform  the  two  services  without  neglecting  those  l^elonging 
to  the  office,  I  continued  to  preach  on  Sabbath,  w  hen  not 
away  on  business  of  the  Executive  Committee.  My  breth- 
ren, all  except  one  member  of  the  committee,  differed  with 
me,  upon  the  alleged  ground  that  all  my  time  and  attention 
"was  due  to  the  secretaryship.  As  it  was  a  question  that  we 
could  not  decide  among  ourselves,  I  proposed  to  the  com- 
mittee to  leave  it  to  be  decided  by  the  General  Assembly, 
■which  was  to  meet  in  1876  in  Savannah,  and  this  proposition 
was  accepted  b}'  the  committee.  I,  in  the  mean  time,  pro- 
posed to  3'ield  $1,000  of  the  salary  fixed  by  the  Executive 
Committee  at  my  entrance  upon  the  office.  The  Standing 
Committee  on  Education  made  their  report  through  the 
chairman,  Eev.  R.  G.  Brank,  D.  D.,  to  the  effect  that  "they 
do  not  regard  the  engagement  of  the  secretary  as  Stated 
Supply  of  a  church  in  the  city  of  Memphis  as  incompatible 
with  the  duties  of  his  office  as  secretary  of  the  committee." 
They  state,  after  discussing  the  subject  in  all  its  aspects, 
that  the  '-'committee  (the  Standing  Committee  on  Edu- 
cation, then  reporting)  recommend  that  the  action  of  the 


A  Legacy.  501 

secretary  in   this  matter  be  approved."     This  ended  that 
matter. 

I  state  further,  that  one  heavy  burden  which  fell  upon 
the  committee  was  the  deficit  reported  by  Dr.  Baird,  in  his 
account  presented  to  the  Assembly  at  Columbus,  in  1874, 
which  amounted  to  $4,000.  Of  course  this  resulted  from 
the  fact  that  the  churches  failed  to  furnish  the  means  to 
pay  the  candidates  the  various  sums  which  had  been  pledged 
to  them  bj^  the  former  committee.  We  were  thus  encum- 
bered with  a  debt  at  the  very  outset  of  our  administration, 
which  proved  a  very  heavy  burden,  with  the  limited  resources 
at  command  and  in  prospect.  Yet  we  braced  ourselves  to 
the  work,  and.  although  we  had.  in  accordance  with  the 
practice  of  the  former  committees,  to  pledge  to  all  candidates 
in  seminary  courses  $200,  and  to  college  students  $175,  we 
managed,  by  Divine  favor,  to  pay  a  percentage  in  reduction 
of  the  debt,  and  to  send  our  special  beneficiaries  enough  to 
carry  them  through  their  annual  terms  of  study.  We  also 
met  with  an  unexpected  event,  which  proved  a  signal  bless- 
ing in  our  struggles,  and  it  came  about  in  this  way  ; 

Previous  to  the  disruption  of  the  church,  in  1861,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  civil  war,  a  devoted  elder  in  Mississippi, 
Mr.  Lusk,  of  Water  Valley,  had  by  his  last  will,  bequeathed  to 
the  Boards  of  the  old  United  Church  certain  liberal  sums  of 
money,  and  among  them  he  gave  a  certain  amount  to  the 
Board  of  Education,  part  of  which  amount  had  been  paid 
by  his  executor  to  the  Board  before  the  war.  That,  of 
course,  arrested  all  further  payments,  and  the  balance  of 
the  sum  unpaid  was  claimed  by  the  Northern  Board.  But, 
in  a  letter  received  from  a  brother  (Rev.  S.  F.  Tenny,  of 
Texas),  who  was  in  Philadelpliia  about  the  time  of  our  pe- 
cuniary straits,  I  was  informed  by  him  that  in  an  interview 
with  the  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  North- 
ern church.  Rev.  William  Speer,  he  was  informed  that  a 
remnant  of  that  legacy  of  Mr.  Lusk  was  under  the  control 


502  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  T>. 

of  the  Northern  church,  and  he  suggested  that,  upon  the  ap- 
phcation  of  our  Assembly  to  the  Northern  Assembly,  in 
proper  legal  form,  the  whole  of  the  balance  now  due  would 
be  tui-ned  over  to  us.  The  needed  arrangements  were  con- 
summated as  soon  as  possible,  and  Dr.  Speer  made  the  trans- 
fer of  all  the  papers  to  myself,  and  we  placed  all  in  the  hands- 
of  our  church  Board  of  Trustees.  The  Assembly  of  1876- 
instructed  the  Trustees  "  to  turn  over  the  legacy  of  the  Lusk 
estate,  amounting  to  something  over  $3,000,  to  the  Treas- 
ui-er  of  Education,  to  collect  and  use  for  liquidating  the  ex- 
isting debt,  or  otherwise,  as  the  exigencies  of  the  case  may 
require." 

This  was  accordingly  done,  and  the  subject  may  be  dis- 
missed with  the  statement  of  the  fact  that  this  money  was 
collected  by  the  attorney,  Hon.  J.  W.  C.Watson,  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, and  paid  over  to  the  committee  from  time  to  time,  and 
the  debt  against  the  committee  was  gradually  reduced,  until, 
at  the  end  of  my  term  of  office  in  1879,  only  a  small  rem- 
nant of  it  remained  unliquidated,  and  ample  provision  was 
made  to  meet  that  by  the  balance  still  due  from  the  Lusk 
estate. 

In  closing  the  record  of  my  connection  with  the  Executive 
Committee  of  Education,  I  feel  that,  by  the  gracious  mercy 
of  God,  the  work  accomplished  was  a  success,  considered  in 
all  respects,  especially  when  considered  in  relation  to  the 
gloom  that  overshadowed  its  prospects  at  the  time  of  its  loca- 
tion in  Memphis,  in  1874.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the 
operations  of  the  committee  had  been  conducted  under  great 
j)ressure  from  financial  troubles  among  the  churches,  and  from 
an  unfortunate  want  of  favor  to  the  general  subject  of  benefi- 
ciary education,  and  from  the  debt  on  the  committee,  w^hich 
had  to  be  paid  to  former  students,  and  at  the  same  time 
from  their  own  obligations  to  the  students  under  their  care. 
It  is  cause  of  great  gratitude,  when  it  is  considered  that 
these  two  objects  were  accomplished  in  less  than  five  years^ 


Union  Street  Chapel.  503 

and  tiiat  over  four  hundred  young  students  were  helped 
into  the  gospel  ministry.     To  God  alone  be  all  the  glory ! 
As  stated  in  a  foregoing  page,  while  I  was  acting  as  Sec- 
retary of  Education,  I  supplied  a  church  with  preaching'. 
This   had   been,  originally,   a  mission  chapel,    located   on 
Union  street,  and  came  into  existence  during  the  pastorate 
of  the  popular  and  beloved  Dr.  T.  D.  Witherspoon,  and  was. 
established  as  a  preaching  station  by  the  Second  Presbyte- 
rian church  of  Memphis.     The  building  was  of  the  simplest 
architecture,  and  wholly  destitute  of  all  ornamentation.    On 
the  retirement  of  Dr.  "Witherspoon  it  seemed  to  have  been 
deserted,  at  least  for  a  time,  but  ultimately,  (I  do  not  know 
at  what  time),  it  was  resumed  as  a  place  of  worship.    At  the^ 
time  of  my  arrival  in  Memphis,  in  1874,  it  was  under  the 
ministry  of  Rev.  A.  Shotwell.  He  removed  shortly  after  that, 
to  St.  Louis,  and  the  church  was  left  vacant.     I  was  asked, 
just  then,  to  fill  the  pulpit  at  such  times  as  I  could  redeem . 
from  the  actual  duties  of  the  secretaryship,  which  I  did  for 
more  than  eighteen  months.     I  found  that  when  I  began  to- 
preach    there,   the   membership   consisted   of  about  thirty 
members.     The  location  was  not  fortunate  for  increase,  but 
the  members,  though  few  in  numbers,  were  zealous,  and 
were  anxious  to  build  up  the  little  church,  and  during  the 
year  1876  (my  second  year  in  Memphis),  I  preached  my  last 
sermon  in  that  building,   on  the  8th  of  October.     It  was 
abandoned  in  order  that  the  members  might  take  possession 
of  a  new  and  far  more  eligible  house  of  worship,  on  the 
corner  of  Beale  and  Lauderdale  streets.     This  house  wa» 
built  by  the  contributions  of  a  few  wealthy  members  of  thia 
congregation,  assisted  by  smaller  amounts  from  others,  who 
contributed  according  to  their  ability.     It  was  designed  as 
a  lecture  and  Sabbath-school  room,   and  ample  space  was 
left  on  the  large  and  beautiful  lot  for  the  erection  of  the 
building  which  was  ultimately  to  stand  as  the  more  capa- 
cious house  of  yrorship.     In  the  meantime,  the  first  build- 


504  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

ing,  newly  finished  as  above  described,  was  to  be  used  for 
:all  purposes  of  a  cliui'ch,  until  the  plan  should  be  fully  car- 
lied  into  effect,  by  the  completion  of  the  church  proper. 
The  new  house  of  worship  was  solemnly  dedicated  to  the 
service  of  the  Triune  God,  by  all  the  usual  solemnities; 
the  sermon,  a  masterly  effort  of  spiritual  and  intellectual 
power,  being  preached  by  Eev.  T.  D.  "Witherspoon,  T).  T> , 
from  the  text,  Ephesians  iv.  15,  16.  The  church  has  been 
known,  thenceforward,  as  "the  Lauderdale  street  church," 
.and  to  it  I  ministered,  as  its  Stated  Supply,  until  July, 
1879.  In  September,  1878,  the  yellow  fever  was  declared 
epidemic  in  Memphis,  and  a  very  general  tendency  to  leave 
the  city  was  manifested  by  those  citizens  who  were  able  to 
get  away. 

The  membership  of  the  Lauderdale  street  church,  which 
^was  about  thirty  in  number  while  they  occupied  the  mission 
chapel  on  Union  street,  had  now  increased  to  107.  But  the 
chui'ches  were  all  soon  closed  on  account,  not  only  of  the 
desertion  of  the  congregations,  but  also  by  the  considera- 
tion of  sanatory  prudence  and  caution  against  exposure  on 
the  part  of  the  small  number  who  were  still  ui  their  homes. 
Having  made  up  our  minds  to  remain  in  our  place  of  resi- 
dence, my  wife  and  I,  adopting  the  plan  suggested  and 
pursued  by  others,  secured  as  a  temporary  place  of  resi- 
dence for  sleeping,  the  country  home  of  our  friend,  Mr. 
J.  N.  Ford,  some  two  or  three  miles  from  the  city,  whence  I 
could  come  in  during  the  day  to  visit  the  members  of  the 
congregation,  and  go  out  again  at  evening.  "We  kept  up 
this  course  until  we  were  driven,  by  force  of  circumstances, 
from  one  place  of  refuge  to  another  in  the  neighborhood 
by  yellow-fever  patients  being  brought  to  the  very  house  we 
occupied.  I  visited  the  few  cases  in  my  congregation  who 
remained  and  who  were  taken  with  the  fever,  bm'ied  two, 
and  assisted  in  depositing  the  corpse  of  one  in  her  burial 
case.     I  preached  in  the  Lauderdale  streeii  church  twica 


Yellow  Fever  at  Memphis.  505 

after  the  outbreak  of  the  fever,  but  on  the  first  of  these  oc- 
casions there  were  not  more  than  thirty,  and  on  the  second 
only  thirteen ;   and  so  we  closed  up  the  church.     It  was  un- 
occupied, as  all  the  other  churches  were,   during  the  pre- 
valence of  this  fearful  epidemic.     The  aspect  of   the   city 
was  truly  deplorable  and  depressing ;  deserted  of  the  once 
busy  and    active  inhabita-nts,   its   streets   once   resounding 
with  the  hum  of  business   and  the  rattling   and   roaring 
tramp  of  horses  and  cars  and  drays,  now  silent  and  still  as 
in  the  solitude  of  death.     Main  street,  the  great  avenue  of 
active  life,  and  the  chief  mart  of  city  commerce,  one  might 
traverse  without  encountering  a  familiar  face,  and  such  was 
the  a^^ul  stilhiess  that  the  foot-fall  of  a  child  might  have 
been  heard,  as  it  smote  the  jDavement.     Finding  no  place 
near  to  the  city  for  visiting  and  returning  at  night,  I  de- 
cided on  going  out  to  Germantown  on  a  trail  that  made  a 
daily  trip  in  and  out,  but  just  as  we  had  used  this  mode  of 
accomplishing  the  object  in  view,  this  train  ceased  to  visit 
Memphis,   and  that  train  which  bore   us  to  Germantown 
proved  to  be  the  last  in  that  direction  for  many  weary  days 
and  weeks.     After  spending  some  days  with  Rev.  R.  R.  Evans 
and  his  excellent  wife,  at  Germantown,  as  I  found  that  I 
was  denied  access  to  Memphis,  I  decided  to  leave  on  an  ex- 
tended visitation  of  the  churches  and  church  courts,  in  be- 
half of  the  cause  of  Education.     Mrs.  Waddel  and  I  left  on 
the  east-bound  train  for  Georgia,  and  I  visited  nine  of  the 
churches  of   that  State  and  Alabama,    and    attended    the 
meetings  of  the  Presbytery  of  Cherokeo  and  the  Synod  of 
Georgia,  at  Atlanta.     After  the  subsidence  of  the  fever,  and 
the  resumption  of  railway  travel  in  the  direction  of  our 
home,  we  returned  to  Memphis  and  settled  down  once  more 
to  regular  work,  about  the  middle  of  November,  after  an 
absence  of  nearlj'  two  months.     We  found  the  aspect  of  the 
city  beginning  to  be  brighter,  but  still  there  hung  over  it  a 
lingering   gloom  naturally  consequent  upon   so  terrible  a 


506  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D 

scourge  which  had  fallen  upon  the  people.  There  were 
many  families  which  were  mourning  for  those  of  their  num- 
ber who  had  fallen  victims  to  the  plague,  and  few  utterly 
exempt. 

The  Lauderdale  street  chm-ch  had  suffered  greatly  by 
the  epidemic  in  the  number  of  deaths  of  its  members,  and 
when  the  church  was  opened  again  for  worship  on  the  17th 
of  November,  it  was  solemn  and  sad  indeed.  "We  witnessed 
the  comparatively  thin  congregation  and  counted  fourteen 
of  the  membership  whose  seats  would  no  more  be  filled  on 
earth.  The  chiu'ch,  though  greatly  weakened  by  death  and 
some  removals,  began  shortly  to  recover  its  lost  ground.  I 
continued  to  supply  the  pulpit,  and  to  discharge  my  duties 
as  Secretary  of  Education  during  the  remainder  of  the 
ecclesiastical  year,  having  in  the  meantime  removed  my 
membership  from  the  Presbytery  of  Chickasaw  to  that  of 
Memphis,  at  a  meeting  held  after  the  end  of  the  fever, 
when  the  Presbytery  had  been,  for  the  first  time,  permitted 
to  gather  together  for  regular  business  transactions. 


CHAPTER  LI. 

Resume  of  Matteks. — Cokkespondence  with  Dk.  Palmer  in  1878-'79. 
— Conflict   of  Feeling. — Attendance  on  Meetings  of  Dikec- 

TORT. — E,E-0RGANIZATI0N    OF    StEWART    COLLEGE    ANT)   ELECTION  OP 

THE  Faculty. 

I  RECALL  just  here  some  facts  that  occurred  during  the 
last  years  of  my  connection  with  the  University  of  Mis- 
sissipi^i.     I  had  been  appointed  as  director  of   the  newly 
outlined,  though  not  yet  organized,  university,  which  was 
under  the  control  of  the  six  Synods  of  Alabama,  Ai-kansas, 
Memphis,    Mississij^pi,  Nashville,    and   Texas.     I   had   at- 
tended two  of  the  meetings  of  this  Board  of  Directors,  and 
two  very  important  acts  had  been  passed :  First,  in  locating 
the  institution,  and  second,  in  the  choice  of  a  Chancellor. 
The  location  was  decided  to  be  at  Clarksville,  Tenn.,  and 
Rev.  Dr.  Palmer  was  made  Chancellor  by  a  unanimous  vote 
of   the  Directory  at  their  meeting  in  Memphis,   in   May, 
1874.     The  Presbytery  of  New  Orleans  declining  to  consent 
to  a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation  between  Dr.  Palmer 
and   the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  New   Orleans,  the 
Board  proceeded  to  institute  a  provisional  government  for 
the    institution    at   Clarksville,    by    appointing    Rev.    Dr. 
Shearer,  who  was  at  that  time  President  of  Stuart  College 
(the  nucleus  of  the  proT)osed  university),  agent  for  the  en- 
dowment,  and   electing  Eev.   Dr.  Flinn,   of  New  Orleans, 
Provisional  President.     This    arrangement   contluued   for 
some  years,  and  some  progress  was  made  in  raising  funds 
under  the  earnest  efforts  of  Dr.  Shearer,  which  would  no 
doubt  have  been  more  successful  but  for  the  temporary  fail- 
ure of  his  health.     I  attended  a  meeting  of  the  Board  in 


507 


508  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  T>.,  LL.  D. 

May,  1875,  and  another  meeting  at  a  later  period.  But 
very  little  progress  was  made  until  1879.  In  1878-"79, 
during  some  months,  a  correspondence  began  between  Dr. 
Palmer  and  myself  upon  a  projected  scheme  of  his  origina- 
tion, proposing  to  prevail  upon  me  to  become  Chancellor  of 
the  new  University  at  Clarksville,  I  found  myself  very  de- 
cidedly opposed  to  even  entertaining  the  proposition  with 
any  degree  of  allowance  at  all.  My  reasons  for  this  disin- 
clination (to  call  it  by  no  stronger  name),  it  is  not  my  pur- 
j)ose  to  state  at  all,  as  they  are  of  such  a  nature  as  would 
draw  into  public  notice  matters  of  a  character  so  personal 
as  to  involve  relations  too  sacred  to  be  disturbed.  I  will 
mention  one  principle  upon  which  I  have  always  endeavored 
to  act ;  it  is  this :  I  have  never  been  willing  to  accept  office 
at  all  of  any  kind,  when  assured  that  there  were  inflitential 
individuals  among  the  voters  opposed  to  me.  Furthermore, 
while  insisting  upon  unanimity  of  supporters  in  my  dis- 
charge of  any  official  duty,  should  existing  opposition  pro- 
ceed from  parties  of  influence,  my  inclination  always  has 
been  to  abandon  the  situation,  to  avoid  any  dissatisfaction 
or  hostility.  This  state  of  feeling  may  proceed,  I  doubt 
not,  in  part  at  least,  from  sensitiveness  or  pride,  or  some 
similar  trait  of  my  inner  constitution,  but  I  mention  it  can- 
didly, simply  to  show  the  mode  of  action  I  chose  to  pursue 
from  one  single  standpoint.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  I  was 
never,  in  all  my  past  history,  the  subject  of  such  a  conflict 
of  feeling  as  to  the  decision  of  any  question  of  duty,  as  I 
found  myself  in  regard  to  this  proposition  of  the  chancel- 
lorship of  the  institution  at  Clarksville.  In  March,  1879,  a 
meeting  was  called  to  take  place  at  Clarksville  of  a  Commit- 
tee on  Organization,  previously  aj)poinfted  by  the  Board  of 
Directors.  This  committee  consisted  of  Rev.  Dr.  Palmer, 
Dr.  Shearer,  and  myself.  The  result  of  the  dehberations  of 
this  committee  was  the  maturing  of  a  plan  embracing  every 
particular  necessary  to  the  actual  working  of  the  proposed 


The  Plan.  509 

Tiniversity.  This  plan  was  to  be  reported  to  the  Board  of 
Directors  at  their  annual  meeting  on  the  last  days  of  May 
and  the  first  of  June.  At  the  appointed  day  the  Board 
met,  all  being  present  except  Bev.  Mr.  McNair,  one  of  the 
Directors  from  Arkansas,  making  in  all  eleven  members. 
The  following  is  a  full  list  of  the  Board  as  then  constituted : 

Synod  of  Alabama. — Rev.  C  A.  Stiilmau,  D.  D.,  and 
Thos.  A.  Hamilton,  Esq. 

Synod  of  Arkansas. — Eev.  E.  McNair,  D.  D.,  and  Rev. 
Thos  R.  Welch,  D.  D. 

S.ynod  of  Meniphis. — G.  W.  Macrae,  Esq.,  and  Rev.  Jno. 
N.  WaddJl,  D.  D. 

Synod  of  3Iisslssippl. — Rev.  B.  M.  Palmer,  D.  D.,  and 
Rev.  Joseph  Bardwell,  D.  D. 

Synod  of  JSFashville. — D.  N.  Kennedy,  Esq.,  and  Rev. 
J.  B.  Shearer,  D.  D. 

Synod  of  Texas. — Rev.  D.  McGregor  and  Rev.  W.  K. 
Marshall,  D.  D. 

Great  interest  was  manifested  by  the  Board  in  the  busi- 
ness of  this  meeting,  as  there  was  to  be  an  entire  re  organi- 
zation, not  onl}''  of  the  sj^stem  of  instruction  of  the  institu- 
tion, but  an  election  of  a  Faculty  also  was  to  be  effected  on 
this  occasion. 

Previous  to  the  present  meeting  of  the  Dkectory,  the 
condition  and  character  of  the  institution  was  simply  that 
of  the  ordinary  close  college,  which  was  in  existence  in 
most  parts  of  the  South.  This  is,  perhaps,  an  appropriate 
place  to  fiu'nish  a  brief  historical  sketch  of  the  college 
which  formed  the  nucleus  of  the  Southwestern  Presbyterian 
University.  "About  the  year  1850,  the  Masonic  Fraternity 
of  Tennessee  founded  in  Clarksville  the  Masonic  University 
of  Tennessee,  which  school  was  conducted  under  the  Presi- 
dency of  W.  F.  Hopkins,  T.  M.  NeweI4,  W.  A.  Forbes,  and 
Wm.  M.  Stewaii:  successively  until  1855.  At  this  time  certain 
pai'ties  in  Clarksville,  in  the  name  of  the  Synod  of  Nash- 


510  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

ville,  purchased  the  buildings,  grounds,  etc.,  and  the  school 
"was  thenceforth  known  under  the  name  and  title  of 

Stewaet  College, 

which  name  was  given  in  honor  of  President  Wm.  M.  Stew- 
art, who  had  been,  and  continued  to  be,  a  most  liberal 
patron  and  friend  of  the  institution.  The  Faculty  was  re- 
organized under  the  Presidency  of  Wm.  M.  Stewart,  and 
the  school  was  conducted  by  a  Board  of  Trustees  appointed 
by  the  Synod  of  Nashville.  He  served  as  President  until 
1858,  when  Rev.  E.  B.  McMullen,  D.  D.,  was  elected  to  suc- 
ceed him.  Professor  Stewart  in  the  meantime  continuing 
his  labors  as  Professor  of  Natural  Sciences.  The  college 
was  rapidly  increasing  in  funds,  appliances,  and  patronage, 
when  the  war  came  on  and  the  school  was  of  necessity  closed 
During  the  war  the  libraries,  cabinets  and  aj^paratus 
were  lost,  and  the  buildings  were  entirely  dismantled  in  the 
fortunes  of  war.  In  1868  and  '70,  the  buildings  were  re- 
paired and  re  furnished,  at  a  cost  of  about  eight  thousand 
dollars.  After  some  dela}^,  the  Faculty  was  re-organized, 
with  Rev.  J.  B.  Shearer,  D.  D.,  as  President,  assisted  by  a 
competent  corps  of  j)rofessors.  The  school  grew  in  favor 
and  popularity  more  rapidly  even  than  its  best  friends  had 
expected.  Negotiations,  looking  to  concentration  of  effort 
over  a  larger  field,  were  prosecuted  diligently,  until,  in  1875, 
a  new  corporation  succeeded  to  the  property  and  f imds  of 
Stewart  College,  under  the  name  and  title  of  the 

Southwestern  Presbyterian  IJNmERSiTY. 

In  Chapter  XLIX.  of  this  memoir,  some  reference  to  the 
great  subject  of  enlarging  the  scheme  of  church  education 
is  made,  and  the  facts  of  the  location  of  the  University 
and  the  adoption  of  Stewart  College  and  its  appiirteufinces 
as  the  nucleus  of  operations  for  the  University,  are  re- 
corded. 


DUHNUTION  OF  PaTRONAGE.  511 

We  may  also,  with  propriety,  make  a  concise  statement  at 
this  point  of  the  course  pursued  by  the  College  from  1874 
to  1879,  as  that  "U'ill  show  both  the  basis  of  its  operations 
and  the  details  of  its  internal  work  until  the  College  was 
merged  into  the  University  under  the  new  corporation  of 
the  Board  of  Dii'ectors,  consisting  of  twelve  members,  ap- 
jDointed  by  six  Synods. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  of  Stewart  College,  before  the  re- 
organization, who  were  appointed  by  the  Synod  of  Nash- 
ville, consisted  of  twentj'-eight  members,  the  President  of 
the  College  being  ex-officio  President  of  the  Board.  The 
Faculty  consisted  of  a  President,  who  instructed  in  Meta- 
physics, Logic,  and  Rhetoric ;  a  Professor  of  Mathematics,  a 
Professor  of  Latin,  a  Professor  of  Greek,  a  Professor  of 
Modern  Languages,  and  one  of  Natural  Sciences.  The 
number  of  students  in  the  year 

1870-71,  reached 101  1874-75,  reached 151 

1871-72,       "       124  1875-76,        "       131 

1872-73,       -       115  1876-77,        "       105 

1873-74,       "       125  1877-78,        "       97 

In  1878-79  it  seems  that  no  catalogue  was  published,  but 
it  is  the  impression  that  the  number  was  not  far  from  sev- 
enty. The  diminution  in  the  patronage  I  have  never  heard 
exj)laiiied  satisfactorily.  But  it  is  always  the  case  that  in- 
stitutions of  learning  are  subjected  to  variations  in  the  num- 
ber in  attendance  from  time  to  time,  and  there  is  generally 
experienced  subsequently  some  difficult}-  in  recovering  fi'om 
such  diminished  numbers.  This  was  the  existing  status  of 
Stewart  College,  then,  when  the  Board  of  Directors  met  at 
Clarksville  on  May  30,  1879,  continuing  in  session  for  sev- 
eral days,  and  arranging  all  the  preliminary  work  for  the 
opening  of  the  career  of  the  new  institution,  under  the 
name  of  the  Southwestern  Presbyterian  University.  It  will 
be  sufficient  to  say  that,  on  this  occasion,  the  curriculum 


512  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

was  abolished.  There  was  no  longer  to  be  recognized  the 
Freshman,  Sophomore,  Junior  and  Senior  Classes.  Instead 
of  that,  "  they  re-organized  the  school  on  the  j^lan  of  co- 
ordinate schools  and  elective  courses.  There  were  at  first 
established  nine  co-ordinate  schools,  covering  the  ground 
usually  embraced  in  the  departments  of  Literature,  Art,  and 
Science,  and  they  were :  I.  The  School  of  Ancient  Lan- 
guages ;  II.  School  of  Mathematics  ;  III.  School  of  Natural 
Sciences ;  IV.  School  of  Philosoj)hy ;  V.  School  of  Modern 
Languages;  VI.  Schoolof  English  Literature  and  Ehetoric; 
VII.  School  of  Biblical  Instruction;  VIII.  School  of  Com- 
mercial Science  ;  IX.  School  of  History.  In  some  of  these 
schools  there  were  three  classes,  called  Junior,  Middle,  and 
Senior ;  in  others  there  were  only  two,  Junior  and  Senior ; 
and  in  certain  departments  under  these  general  schools  only 
one  class  was  formed,  just  in  accordance  with  the  time  re- 
quired to  complete  the  study  of  that  department. 

It  was,  from  the  origin  of  the  university  system,  contem- 
plated that  professional  schools  should  ])e  added  to  the  or- 
ganization at  the  earliest  possible  period.  But  the  Board 
did  not  establish  any  professional  school  at  their  meeting  in 
1879.  Their  action  in  this  regard  was  postponed  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  will  be  recorded  at  the  apjDrojDriate  time. 

Having  completed  the  work  of  organizing  the  institution 
in  this  way,  provision  was  also  made  for  an  elementary  de- 
partment of  instruction  in  Latin,  Greek,  Higher  Arithmetic, 
Algebra,  and  Geometry,  this  department  to  be  under  the 
same  discipline  and  control  as  that  of  the  other  schools  of 
the  University. 

The  second  important  item  of  business  before  the  Direc- 
tory on  this  occasion  was  the  election  of  a  Faculty.  It  was 
at  a  late  hour  in  the  afternoon  of  Saturday,  May  31,  1879, 
that  the  Board  proceeded  to  this  subject.  On  the  nomina- 
tion of  Dr.  J.  B.  Shearer  (who  had  been  the  President  of 
Stewart  College  from  1870),  my  name  was  placed  before 


Elected  Chancellor.  515 

them,  and  I  was  unauiraoiisiy  elected  Chancellor  of  the 
Southwestern  Presbyterian  University.  I  accepted  the 
office  in  a  brief  reply  to  a  verbal  communication  of  a  com- 
mittee appointed  to  inform  me  of  my  election.  Yet  I  was 
by  no  means  in  an  exultant  or  cheerful  frame  of  mind,  but 
as  I  find  in  my  diary  recorded,  "  I  was  troubled  with  con- 
flicting feelings." 

On  Monday,  June  2d,  the  Board  finished  the  election  of  a 
Faculty,  which  resulted  as  follows : 

Eev.  C.  R.  Hemphill,  A.  M.,  Professor  in  the  School  of 
Ancient  Languages. 

James  Dinwiddie,  A.  M.,  Professor  in  the  School  of 
Mathematics. 

John  AV.  Caldwell,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  Steioart  Professor  in. 
the  School  of  Natural  Sciences. 

S.  J.  CoFF^L^NN,  Professor  in  the  School  of  Modern  Lau" 
giiages. 

Eev.  J.  B.  Shearer,  D.  D.,  Professor  in  the  School  of 
English  Literature  and  Rhetoric. 

There  was  an  assignment  of  the  duties  of  the  two  remain- 
ing Professorships  of  Bibhcal  Instruction  and  of  Commer- 
cial Science  to  the  members  of  the  Faculty,  as  might  seem 
best.  The  former  chair  was  filled  by  Dr.  Shearer,  and  the 
duties  of  the  latter  devolved  upon  Professor  Dinwiddie  in 
case  a  class  should  be  formed. 

On  Tuesday  evening,  at  7  p.  m.,  a  previously  appointed 
memorial  service  was  conducted  in  honor  of  the  late  Wm. 
M.  Stewart,  deceased,  the  benefactor  and  former  President 
of  the  college.  The  exercises  were  interesting,  and  con- 
sisted of — 

1st.  An  appropriate  essay,  by  Professor  J.  W.  Caldwell, 

M.  D. 

2d.  "  Eulogy  on  the  Life  and  Labors  of  Professor  Stew- 
art," by  Professor  J.  B.  Shearer,  D.  D. 


514  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

3.  A  splendid  dedicatory  discourse  of  the  building,  called 
"  Stewart  Cabinet  Hall,"  delivered  by  Rev.  B.  M.  Palmer, 
D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  in  his  own  inimitable  style. 

On  Wednesday,  June  4th,  the  exercises  of  the  last  Com- 
mencement of  Stewart  College  were  held,  when  seven  stu- 
dents were  graduated,  and  at  the  close  it  was  announced  by 
Dr.  Shearer,  who  presided,  that  the  exercises  of  the  next 
session  (the  first  of  the  new  organization),  would  open  for 
the  reception  of  students  on  Monday,  September  1st,  1879. 


CHAPTER  LIl. 

Attendance  on  the  Assembly,  May  15,  1879, — Return  to  Memphis 

AND    PkEPAKATIONS  TO   EeMOYE.  — RESIGNATION   OF  THE  SeCEETAEY- 

SHip  AND  Election  of  Successoe.  — Faeewell  Seemon.  — Aeeivaij 

AT  ClAKKSVILLE,   AND  AdDEESS  TO  THE  SiX  SyNODS. 

THE  narrative  of  my  life,  as  already  alluded  to  and  as 
appears  in  its  progress  thus  far,  is  broken  up  to  some 
extent  necessarily  by  the  fact  that  I  have  been  endeavoring 
to  live  a  sort  of  double  life  and  to  work  out  two  diverse 
careers  simultaneously.  So  it  has  been  a  matter  of  neces- 
sity, at  times,  to  dwell  entirely  upon  the  incidental  events 
of  one  of  these  departments,  and  to  leave  those  of  the 
other  sphere  of  effort  in  temporary  reserve  to  bide  its  time 
for  record.  The  two  forms  of  work  thus  have  been  sepa- 
rated in  this  Avay  in  their  course,  apparently^  and  only  ap- 
parently. For  it  is  a  fact  that,  during  the  times  of  which 
my  story  treats,  I  have  been  combining  the  work  of  two 
men,  and  carrying  on  both  at  specific  and  appointed  periods, 
so  that  the  attention  necessary'  to  the  discharge  of  duties 
belonging  to  the  one  should  not  encroach  upon  that  which 
should  be  devoted  to  the  other,  and  that  neither  should  in- 
terfere with,  but  both,  in  the  end,  should  prove  to  be  mutu- 
ally auxiliary. 

The  events  recorded  in  the  preceding  chapter  embrace 
the  period  that  elapsed  from  the  latter  part  of  December, 
1878,  to  the  4th  of  June,  1879.  It  must  not  be  supposed 
that  during  these  months  I  had  been  thinking  and  acting 
solely  in  connection  with  the  absorbing  interests  of  the  in- 
stitution whose  history  I  have  dwelt  upon  so  closely.  It  is 
true  I  had  signified  my  willingness  to  accept  the  office  of 

515 


51G  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

Chancellor  of  Southwestern  Presbyterian  XJniversit}',  bnt  I 
had  not  ceased  to  act  as  Secretary  of  Education.  On  the 
contrary,  I  had  never  been  more  devoted  in  my  services  in 
that  capacity.  I  had  kept  up  a  constant  correspondence 
with  the  various  churches  and  students,  and  had  j)repared 
the  usual  annual  reports  to  be  presented  to  the  General  As- 
sembly. I  also  attended  the  meeting  of  the  Assembly  held 
in  Louisville,  Ky.,  on  May  15th;  read  my  report  and  gave 
information  to  the  standing  committee,  addressed  the  As- 
sembly on  the  subject  of  Education,  and  heard  expressions, 
from  individuals  and  through  the  committee,  approving  of 
the  year's  work,  and  the  usual  amount  of  dissatisfaction  with 
the  plan  of  a  separate  executive  committee  for  this  purpose ; 
and  had  the  satisfaction  of  being  able  to  report  to  the 
Assembly  the  pajnnent  of  all  the  pledges  to  candidates  for 
the  current  ecclesiastical  3'ear,  and  the  reduction  of  the 
heavy  debt  which  had  been  incurred  by  the  preceding  com- 
mittee, from  $3,500  to  $318,  and  I  had  the  gratification, 
further,  to  be  enabled  to  state  that  ample  provision  had 
been  made  to  meet  that  small  balance. 

This  was  the  last  meeting  of  the  Assembly  which  I  ever 
attended  in  an  official  capacity,  and  my  reason  for  declining 
at  that  time  to  surrender  the  trust  which  I  had  heM  for  five 
years  was  simply  because  I  had  not  then  fully  made  uj)  my 
mind  as  to  my  future  course.  I  returned  to  Memphis  after 
the  adjournment  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  spent  the 
time,  from  the  26th  of  May  till  the  16th  of  June,  at  home, 
with  the  exception  of  the  interval  already  accounted  for  in 
the  preceding  chapter,  w^hen  I  made  my  visit  to  Clarksville, 
and  one  to  Lexington,  Ky.,  to  dehver  an  address  before 
Sayro  Institute.  Having  accepted  the  chancellorship  at 
Clarksville,  I  called  a  meetmg  of  the  Executive  Committee 
of  Education  for  Monday,  16th  of  June,  at  which  time  I  pre- 
sented my  resignation  of  the  office  of  secretary  in  the  words 
following,  viz. : 


Resignation  of  Secretakyship.  517 

"  To  the  Executive   Committee  of  Education,  hi  session, 
Jtfemj^his,  Tenn. : 

«  June  16,  1879. 

"  Bretliren :  I  herewith  tender  to  you  my  resignation  of 
the  office  of  Secretary  of  Education,  which  I  have  held,  un- 
der successive  appointments  of  the  General  Assembly,  for 
the  past  five  years.  Feehng  justified  in  this  course  by  cir- 
cumstances which  seemed  to  me  clearly  to  indicate  its  entire 
propriety,  and  which  it  is  not  expedient  to  mention,  it  only 
remains  that  I  ask  your  acceptance  of  my  resignation,  and 
that  I  assure  you  of  my  abiding  interest  in  the  cause  of 
beneficiary  education. 

"  The  books,  correspondence,  and  archives  of  the  commit- 
tee, so  far  as  they  have  come  into  my  possession,  shall  be 
turned  over  at  any  time  to  the  party  properly  authorized  by 
the  committee  to  take  them  in  charge.  The  fullest  infor- 
mation in  regard  to  the  condition  of  the  cause  under  your 
care,  so  far  as  its  interests  have  come  under  the  knowledge 
and  control  of  the  secretary,  together  with  any  desired  in- 
struction as  to  the  method  of  the  office  work,  will  be  fur- 
nished, with  sincere  ^^leasure,  by  the  committee's  fellow- 
servant  in  Christ  Jesus,  .     John  N.  Waddel." 

N.  B.  — My  term  of  office  expired  on  the  31st  of  May,  as 
on  that  day  I  accepted  another  office.  The  declinature  of 
the  office  would  have  been  made  to  the  Assembly  itself  but 
for  the  fact  that  the  way  was  not  clear  to  the  mind  of  the 
secretary  that  it  was  right  for  him  to  do  so  at  that  time. 

The  committee  met  on  the  16th,  and  accepted  my  resig- 
nation, and  action  was  taken  to  appoint  a  committee  to  pre- 
pare a  paper  expressive  of  the  views  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee in  relation  to  the  resignation,  and  adjourned  to  meet 
again  on  the  23rd  of  June,  and  on  that  day  Rev,  E.  M. 
Bichardson  was  elected  Secretary  of  Education.     On  the 


518  John  N.  Waddel,  B.  D.,  LL.  D. 

24th  the  newl^'-appoiuted  secretary  came  to  lu}^  house,  and 
I  transferred  all  the  papers  from  my  keeping  to  his;  and 
thus  ended  my  term  of  service  as  Secretary  of  Education. 

My  occupation  in  this  line  of  service  to  the  church  having* 
been  brought  to  a  close  in  Memphis,  there  remained  nothing 
for  me  to  do  but  to  make  preparation  for  removal  from  that 
city  to  my  new  field  of  labor;  and  to  that  I  directed  all  my 
attention  for  the  ensuing  w^eek.  I  dehvered  a  farewell  dis- 
course to  the  Lauderdale-street  church  on  Sabbath,  June 
29th,  on  2  Corinthians,  xiii.  11,  and  parted  with  the  peo- 
ple with  every  manifestation  of  affection  and  regret  on 
their  part.  The  feeling  which  pervaded  my  soul  in  turn- 
ing my  back  upon  IMemphis,  after  a  residence  of  five  years, 
was  of  a  nature  made  up  of  combined  sadness  and  relief. 
I  forbear  entering  into  any  delineation  of  my  state  of  mind 
on  the  subject,  except  to  say  that  I  was  thankful  to  be  as- 
sured that  I  had  a  warm  j)lace  in  the  affection  and  confi- 
dence of  many  of  the  best  people  of  the  place,  and  w^as  dis- 
posed to  consign  to  silent  forgetfulness  anything  that  had 
marred  my  peace  during  ni}''  abode  and  term  of  service  there. 
We  took  our  departure  on  Tuesday,  July  1st,  and,  with  the 
pajTiient  of  a  visit  to  friends  on  the  way  for  a  day  and  two 
nights  as  our  only  delay,  we  reached  Clarks\dlle  at  six  o'clock 
p.  M.  on  the  3rd,  in  peace  and  safety,  "by  the  good  hand  of 
our  God  upon  us." 

I  recur  to  the  state  of  my  mind  on  this  new  enter j)rise, 
not  to  give  any  history  of  the  reasons  for  its  existence,  but 
to  bring  into  view  a  single  fact  connected  with  my  expe- 
rience. It  is  this  :  That  often,  in  the  contemplation  of  j)ro- 
spective  changes  which  seemed  determined  upon  in  my  fu- 
ture, I  have  felt  gloomy,  and  reluctant  to  meet  them,  and 
anticipated  no  enjoyment  in  their  realization  ;  but  when  the 
time  came  to  meet  the  demands  and  requirements  of  the 
situation,  the  way  was  found  clear  and  smooth,  and  my  fears 
were  removed,  and  were  succeeded  by  as  much  true  comfort 


Arrival  at  Clark  sville.  519 

and  success  as  are  allotted  to  any  of  God's  servants  in  "  this 
i3resent  evil  world,"  TN'itli  its  prevalent  imperfectness.  It 
proved  so  preeminent^  in  the  case  of  my  removal  to  Clarks- 
ville  and  my  service  there.  I  may  add  that  it  seems  to  me 
now,  in  the  retrospect,  that  I  went  there  under  di\dne  guid- 
ance, and  was  enabled  to  rejoice  in  the  work  performed. 

On  my  arrival,  as  it  was  during  the  vacation,  and  very 
few  of  the  attaches  of  the  University  were  present,  I  was 
oj)pressed  with  a  sense  of  comparative  loneliness.     There 
were  very  few  of  the  usual  arrangements  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  a  Faculty  provided  by  the  authorities  of  the  Uni- 
versity.    The  members  of  the  Faculty  were  not  furnished 
with  residences :  every  Professor  was  obhged  to  rent  or  fur- 
nish his  own  house.     The  case  of  the  Chancellor  was  no  ex- 
ception to  this  rule.     Some  of  the  Faculty  owned  the  houses 
and  lots  they  occujoied,  and  others  of  them  rented  places 
which  were  within  convenient  distance  of  the  campus.     I, 
with  no  one  to  provide  for  except  my  wife,  secured  a  small 
cottage  on  the  jDremises  of  Professor  Dinwiddle,  and  boarded 
with  him  for  the  first  term  of  my  service.     The  outlook  was 
not  bright  for  the  new  enterprise  by  any  means.     There  had 
been  a  diminution  of  the  number  of  students  in  attendance 
for  some  few  sessions  past,  and  there  had  been  no  grounds, 
of  hope  presented  that  there  would  be  any  considerable  ac- 
cessions made  very  soon.     There  were  many  cheering  ex- 
pressions circulated  in  the  public  journals  of  the  State  by 
the  friends  of  the  institution,  and  arguments  abundant,  set- 
ting forth  the  importance  of  patronizing  the  new  Univer- 
sity as  a  great  agency  for  promoting  the  interests  of  sound 
education.     In  furtherance  of  the  objects  contemplated  by 
the  institution,  it  was  thought  advisable  that  I  should,  in 
the  capacity  of  Chancellor,  issue  some  address  to  the  public 
on  this  occasion.     Accordingly,  I  prepared  and  furnished 
for  publication  in  the  newspapers  the  following  as  an  an- 
nouncement of  the  Southwestern  Presbyterian  University: 


520  John  N.  ^Yaddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

Salutatory. 

The  undersigned  ventures  to  indulge  the  hope  that  he  is 
committing  no  offence  against  good  taste,  or  that  modesty 
that  becomes  his  humble  pretensions,  in  presenting  his  re- 
spectful salutations  to  the  constituency  of  the  University  on 
assuming  the  high  and  responsible  office  of  Chancellor,  to 
•which  he  was  recently  elected  by  the  unsolicited  and  unani- 
mous suffrage  of  the  Board  of  Directors.  In  view  of  the 
many  comphmentary  comments  of  the  press  on  this  action 
of  the  directory,  as  well  as  the  expressions  of  personal  con- 
gratulation received  from  numerous  friends,  he  can  certainly 
do  no  less  than  present  his  most  sincere  and  profound  ac- 
knowledgments. Fiu'thermore,  he  cheerfully  pledges,  in 
advance,  the  devotion  of  whatever  pow^ers  and  endowments 
he  may  possess,  and  the  utilization  of  his  long  and  varied 
•experience  as  an  educator,  to  this  new  and  difficult  enter- 
prise, with  a  firm  determination  to  discharge  his  whole  dut}'" 
io  the  full  extent  of  his  ability,  in  humble  reliance  upon  the 
gracious  assistance  of  the  great  Head  of  the  church  to 
•whose  glory  the  institution  has  been  solemnly  dedicated. 
To  the  337  ministers  and  the  3,800  church  members  under 
the  care  of  the  six  Synods  w^hich  control  the  University, 
viz. :  Alabama,  Arkansas,  Memphis,  Mississippi,  Nashville, 
and  Texas,  the  directors  and  the  Faculty  naturally  look  for 
the  encouragement  arising  from  the  zealous  exertion  of  their 
moral  influence  in  recommending  the  institution  to  the  favor 
of  their  circles  of  association  for  j^atronage  to  fill  our  class- 
rooms with  a  large  accession  of  students,  and  for  such  ma- 
terial aid  as  can  be  extended  to  increase  the  permanent  en- 
dowment fund  of  the  University,  whereby  its  blessings  may 
1)6  perpetuated  to  successive  generations. 

II.  Advantages  of  Location. 

The  remoteness  of  the  city  of  Clarksville  from  the  ex- 
tremes of  our  territory  has  been  jDressed  as  an  objection  to 


Southwestern  Presbyterian  University.  521 

the  location.  This  is  met  by  the  fact  that  it  is  accessible  by 
railway  from  all  points,  and  other  facilities  of  approach  are 
in  contemplation  at  an  early  day.  The  healthfulness  of 
Clarksville  will  challenge  comparison  with  that  of  any  place 
in  all  the  land.  While  it  is  not  "the  joy  of  the  whole 
earth,"  it  is  certainly  "beautiful  for  situation,"  reposing 
upon  the  hills  of  Montgomery,  embowered  among  grand  old 
forest  trees,  and  having  its  base  washed  by  the  clear-flowing 
waters  of  the  Cumberland.  It  is  comj)actly  built,  adorned 
"with  costly  and  attractive  residences  and  public  buildings, 
suiTounded  by  large  and  commodious  lots,  beautified  by 
green  grassy  lawns  and  a  rich  profusion  of  shrubbery  and 
flowers.  These  material  surroundings  are  part,  and  they 
are  a  legitimate  part,  of  the  evidences  of  the  high  state  of 
culture  and  refinement  of  the  citizens  of  the  place.  ^Yher- 
ever  persons  who  have  from  time  to  time  sojourned  in 
Olarksville,  for  a  longer  or  shorter  period,  have  been  met, 
their  voluntary  testimony  has  been  given  to  the  superiority 
of  the  population,  their  high  moral  tone,  theii*  genial  hospi- 
tality, their  social  tendencies,  and  their  consistent  religions 
character.  The  membership  of  the  various  churches  is 
generally  large  and  influential,  the  houses  of  worship  im- 
posing and  commodious,  and  the  pulpits  of  the  city  are  filled 
with  able,  devoted,  and  successful  pastors.  The  po^^ulation 
is  estimated  at  about  six  thousand,  and  is  increasing.  The 
city  is  rapidly  improving  ;  the  burnt  district  is  nearly  again 
occupied  by  massive  structures  of  r.  bettor  class  and  more 
imposing  architecture  than  those  which  were  destroyed  a 
year  or  two  since.  Such  is  the  proper  description  of  the 
place,  physically  and  morally,  to  which  our  friends  are  in- 
vited to  send  their  sons  for  education. 

III.  Prospects  of  the  University. 
Of  course,  this  is  very  much  a  matter  of  conjecture.     All 
anticipations  connected  with  the  subject,  to  be  rehable,  must 


522  John  N.  AVaddel,  D.  D  ,  LL.  D. 

suppose  certain  facts  as  a  basis  of  calculation.  Our  friends, 
as  they  are  scattered  over  all  this  broad  land  which  stretches 
from  the  northern  hmit  of  Tennessee  to  the  Gulf,  on  the 
south,  and  from  the  eastern  line  of  Alabama  to  the  Rio 
Grande,  on  the  west,  must  put  forth  their  strenuous  efforts 
in  securing  students  who  shall  resort  to  us  for  instruction 
and  training,  AVithout  this  prime  fundamental  considera- 
tion of  personal  effort,  and  the  exertion  of  personal  influence 
in  making  known  and  recommending  the  institution,  we 
shall  struggle  hopelessly  on,  as  so  many  of  our  schools  of  so- 
called  higher  learning  haye  done.  But  if  our  friends  will 
but  work  energetically,  our  halls  will  be  yery  soon  crowded 
with  students.  The  citizens  of  Clarksyille  must  rally  around, 
the  University.  This,  we  feel  persuaded,  they  will  do.  The^'" 
haye  done  so  in  times  past.  They  are  prepared,  with  their 
moral  wei^iit  and  otherwise,  to  sustain  all  the  efforts  of  the 
directory  and  the  Faculty  to  build  up  tho  institution.  There 
is  nothing  more  potent  as  a  factor  in  securing  success  to 
such  an  enterprise  than  the  favor  and  kind  feelings  of  the 
immediately  surrounding  community.  AYithout  it,  failure  is 
almost  inevitable ;  with  it,  everything  is  encouraging  in  the 
future.  Now,  let  this  morally  weighty,  influential  commu- 
nity of  Clarksville  stand  by  and  support  the  authorities  in 
every  good  word  and  work,  co-operating  with  them  in  every 
way  for  the  success  and  good  order  of  the  institution,  and 
this  will  strengthen  the  hearts  of  the  Faculty  and  friends, 
and  parents  will  be  re-assured  of  the  safety  and  moral  pro- 
tection of  their  sons  who  may  be  entrusted  to  our  care.  And 
for  the  members  of  the  Faculty,  who  are  the  immediate 
guardians  of  the  interests  of  the  University,  the  honored 
colleagues  of  the  undersigned,  I  am  j)ersuaded  that,  with 
their  eminent  and  tried  qualifications  as  instructors,  their 
experience  of  many  years  in  the  management  of  schools  of 
learning,  and  their  well-known  success  amid  many  opjDOsing 
circumstances,  the  best  founded  hoi)es  may  be  indulged  that 


Advantages  of  the  University.  523 

the  institution,  with  God's  blessing  to  accompany  their 
work,  may  prove  a  grand  success.  None  of  them,  it  may  be 
asserted,  will  feel  disposed  to  shrink  from  the  share  allotted 
to  them  as  individuals,  and  to  the  body  as  a  unit.  The  labor 
imposed  upon  each  is  very  heavy,  but  they  will  be  found 
equal  to  duty.  With  fidelity  and  devotion  to  work,  indus- 
try and  vigilance,  with  harmony  in  co-operation,  such  as 
will  be  reasonably  anticipated,  it  would  seem  that  God's 
smile  of  favor  would  be  all  that  would  be  required  to  com- 
mand success,  and  Clarksville  w^ould  be  developed  into  a 
grand  educational  centre  for  all  our  six  SjTiods,  and  the 
blessed  influence  of  Christian  culture  would  extend  to  all 
the  region  round  about  and  beyond. 

"  Our  endowment  is  respectable,  but  we  hope  to  increase 
it.  We  have  a  suppty  of  class-room  apparatus,  mechanical, 
chemical,  astronomical,  and  electrical,  and  to  these  addi- 
tions will  be  made.  The  scientific  library  is  unusually  fine, 
the  donation  of  the  late  Wm.  M.  Stewart,  and  our  facilities 
will  be  found  ample  in  all  resj)ects  for  imparting  a  first-class 
education. 

"Send  us,  therefore,  students,  and  let  our  work  be  illustra- 
ted in  the  preparation  and  sending  forth  of  highly-culti- 
vated Christian  citizens  in  all  dej^artments  of  human  effort 
and  usefulness.  The  University  is  not  designed  to  be 
ephemeral,  but  to  be  perpetuated,  and  if  its  friends  respond 
to  its  demands  and  reasonable  claims,  there  seems  no  reason 
why  it  may  not  become  a  fountain  of  usefulness,  a  nursery 
of  piety,  and  a  source  of  infinite  blessedness  for  generations 
yet  unborn.  John  N.  Waddel,  Chancellor T 

The  above  was  published  extensively  in  the  newspapers 
throughout  all  the  adjacent  States;  and  we  were  very  busily 
engaged  during  the  vacation  in  writing  and  answering  let- 
ters in  reference  to  the  approaching  session,  and  in  prepar- 
ing for  the  reception  of  students  until  the  1st  of  September, 
on  which  day  the  exercises  of  the  University  were  regularly 
opened,  with  something  like  fortj'  students  in  attendance. 


CHAPTER   LIII. 

'The  Epidemic  Ag.u:n.  — Numbek  of  Students.  — The  Public  School.  — 
The  Fkee  Feature  of  the  University. — Character  of  the 
Faculty. — The  Student-Body  Before  and  After  the  New  Or- 
ganization.— Discipline  and  Christian  Influence. 

WE  had  scarce!}'  found  ourselves  fairly  settled  in  our 
new  quarters  when  the  exciting  intelligence  was 
flashed  along  the  wires  that  the  city  of  Memphis  was  again 
visited  by  the  j^ellow-fever,  and  the  trains  were  crowded 
with  refugees  who  were  fleeing  from  the .  epidemic.  This 
interrupted  the  travel  to  some  extent,  and  no  doubt  created 
some  apprehension  of  danger  on  the  2')art  of  many  who  had 
thought  of  sending  students  to  Clarhsville.  For  although 
the  distance  between  the  two  j^laces  was  two  hundred  miles, 
yet  the  communication  between  them  was  direct  and  open. 
The  people  of  Clarksville  were  much  exercised  upon  the  sub- 
ject, and  held  a  meeting  to  consider  the  Cjuestion  of  quaran- 
tining against  Memphis ;  and  although  there  was  a  portion 
of  the  citizens  in  favor  of  throwing  open  the  town  to 
the  refugees,  there  was  a  majority  who  decided  against  that 
coui'se,  and  so  the  town  was  placed  under  strict  quarantine 
regulations.  It  was  in  this  position  that  we  found  ourselves 
about  the  middle  of  July ;  and  although  many  people  from 
Memphis  did  make  their  temporary  sojourn  in  Clarksville, 
and  two  military  companies  of  the  city  of  Memphis  en- 
camped there  during  the  summer,  yet  not  a  case  occurred 
of  fever  in  the  city  of  Clarksville.  The  panic  subsided 
after  a  few  weeks,  and  the  ravages  of  the  plague  were  not 
comparable  to  those  of  the  summer  of  1878,  and  we  settled 
down  with  earnestness  to  our  academic  labors,  and  suffered 
no  interruption  from  the  visitation  of  yellow-fever. 

524 


Need  of  Preparatory  Work.  525 

Our  catalogue  of  the  first  session  records  the  number  of" 
students  in  attendance  on  all  the  courses.  "We  were  patron- 
ized to  some  extent  by  all  the  constituent  Synods,  and,  in 
addition,  by  Georgia  and  Kentucky.  They  'were  appor- 
tioned as  regards  the  various  courses  in  the  languages  and 
sciences  to  a  more  enlarged  extent  than  ordinarily  is  found 
in  new  institutions,  which  was  truly  a  gratifying  circum- 
stance in  our  prospective  sphere  of  labor.  There  were,  even 
in  the  School  of  Philosophy,  of  which  I  was  placed  in 
charge  as  my  department  of  instruction,  no  less  than  thirty- 
five.  We  found  our  classes  also  including  in  their  number, 
in  various  stages  of  advancement,  ten  candidates  for  the 
ministry.  Yet  such  was  the  limited  range  and  defective 
quality  of  preparatory  schools  throughout  the  entire  region 
of  country  from  which  our  patronage  was  drawn,  that  the 
Professors  in  Latin,  Greek  and  Mathematics  were  obliged  to 
do  double  duty  in  training  unprepared  students  in  the  ele- 
ments of  those  schools.  This  was,  however,  an  advantage 
of  great  importance  and  value  to  the  students  themselves, 
as  they  were  in  this  way  much  more  thoroughly  fitted  for 
the  more  advanced  departments  of  the  University  schools,, 
and  more  intimately  familiar  with  the  methods  of  the  pro- 
fessors by  daily  association  with  them  for  at  least  one  addi- 
tional academic  year.  The  city  of  Clarks-s^lle  had  in  opera^ 
tion  then,  and  also  previous  to  our  organization,  the  public 
school  system,  which  was  well  sustained  and  largely  patron- 
ized. It  was  not  like  many  of  the  schools  of  the  system  in 
other  places,  which  are  in  active  operation  for  only  a  limited 
portion  of  the  year,  but  its  sessions  were  held  through  the 
usual  term  of  the  scholastic  year.  The  town  originally 
made  a  very  generous  contribution  to  the  Directory  as  an 
inducement  to  locate  the  University  at  Clarksville,  on  this, 
among  other  conditions,  that  the  public  school  should  be  en- 
titled to  ten  free  scholarships,  to  be  awarded  to  those  stu- 
dents of  the  public  school  who  should  be  adjudged  entitled 


526  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

to  a  scholarship  upon  examination.  This  was  often  con- 
ferred upon  young  men  who  properly  appreciated  their  op- 
portunity and  imj)roved  their  advantages,  but,  as  is  some- 
times the  case,  others  thus  favored  failed  to  meet  the  respon- 
sibility accompanpng  the  benefaction.  Yet  there  were  also 
among  our  free  students  of  this  class  those  who  reflected 
credit  upon  the  University  in  their  after  course  in  life. 

The  free  feature  of  the  institution  was  based  upon  two 
other  j)rinciples  in  its  original  establishment,  and  these  be- 
came, in  process  of  time,  very  largely  adopted  and  practiced 
in  the  reception  of  students.  One  of  them  was  part  and 
parcel  of  the  very  nature  of  our  system  as  a  church  college, 
•viz. :  that  all  candidates  for  the  ministiy  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  should  be  trained  free  of  all  tuition  fees.  The  other 
was  that  all  sons  of  Presbyterian  ministers  should  be  ad- 
mitted free  of  tuition  fees.  This  last  provision  is  not  with- 
out reason,  as,  w^iile  it  may  be  accompanied  by  a  diminu- 
tion of  the  salaries  of  the  officers  of  the  Faculty,  it  relieved 
the  authorities  of  any  burden  of  debt  to  them,  which  is  often 
found  to  be  incurred  by  colleges  where  fixed  salaries  are 
pledged  u23on  the  basis  of  tuition  receipts.  In  the  case  of 
the  Southwestern  Presbyterian  University,  the  number  of 
^professorships  unendowed  were  supported  by  distributing 
the  actual  proceeds  of  the  entire  tuition  fees  among  the  Pro- 
fessors, and  this,  of  course,  was  subject  to  fluctuation ;  but 
at  the  same  time,  out  of  the  general  endowment  fund,  an 
income  was  sufficient  and  secure  to  paj^  to  each  an  invariable 
bonus,  which  they  might  confidently  rely  upon,  and  would 
ordinarily  enable  the  Professors  to  sustain  themselves. 

The  University  of  Mississij^pi  charges  no  candidate  for 
the  ministry  of  any  church,  nor  any  young  man  who  is  de- 
sirous to  obtain  an  education,  and  unable  to  pay  tuition. 
But  it  is  abundantly  able  to  affi^rd  this  generosity  by  its 
ample  endowment  lodged  in  the  State  treasury  ;  bi't  church 
colleges  and  universities  are  not  in  circumstances  of  financial 


ClARKSVLLLE  and  the  IJNrV^ERSITY.  527 

ability  sucli  as  those  of  Mississippi  University,  and  while 
the  latter  should  have  the  credit  of  her  generosity,  it  must 
be  kept  in  mind  that  she  can  well  afford  it. 

On  this  subject  it  has  always  been  to  me  a  sui'prising,  and 
yet  a  most  gratifying  fact,  that  the  Southwestern  Presl)yte- 
nan  University  has  been  so  highly  favored  as  to  retain  in 
service  for  so  long  a  period  Professors  of  such  acknowledged 
ability  as  those  occupying  the  several  chairs  of  instruction 
in  the  Faculty.  It  is  not,  b}'  any  means,  an  extravagant 
estimate  of  the  merit  justly  accorded  to  these  gentlemen, 
that  they  would  have  been  found,  respectively,  fully  equal  to 
any  similar  position  in  any  of  the  institutions  of  the  higher 
learning  in  the  country.  I  have  no  doubt  that  it  is  due,  in 
part,  to  the  fact  that  the  community  in  which  the  University 
is  located  is  justly  reputed  as  remarkable  for  its  genial 
courtes}'  and  social  feeling,  and  for  its  refined  and  generous 
bearing  toward  the  University.  That  this  w^as  not  the  case 
in  its  original  opening  is  known  to  those  familiar  with  the 
history  of  the  institution.  It  is  not  possible  to  state,  j)roba- 
bly  with  absolute  certainty,  the  causes  which  might  have 
combined  to  produce  a  result  which,  at  the  first,  seemed  to 
argue  coldness  of  interest  toward  the  University  on  the  part 
of  the  citizens.  And  even  were  it  j)ossible,  it  will  not  be 
proper  to  enter  it  on  record,  as  it  most  assuredly  no  longer 
exists.  The  citizens,  as  is  well  known,  began  to  take  great 
pride  in  the  institution,  and  to  regard  it  as  an  acquisition  to 
the  city,  every  way  calculated  to  attract  attention  from 
abroad  and  add  to  the  population  of  Clarksville. 

Those  of  the  authorities  in  more  immediate  charge  of  the 
institution  were  resolved,  from  the  beginning,  to  devote 
their  best  energies  to  the  elevation  of  its  character  and  the 
grade  of  its  standard.  That  they  were  successful  to  a  most 
gratifying  extent,  in  the  course  of  time,  is  a  matter  of  his- 
tory that  is  well  known  to  all  who  had  the  opportunity  to 
watch  the  progress  of  events  in  the  gradual  development  o:^ 
the  system  newly  established. 


528  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  T>.,  LL.  D. 

The  College,  for  some  years  previous  to  1879,  had  lost  the 
confidence  of  the  region  from  which  its  support  was  mainly 
drawn,  as  to  the  character  of  the  student-body.     When  the 
University  was  opened,  there  was  found  a  mixture,  consist- 
ing of  a  goodly  ]3roportion  of  young  men  of  the  highest 
character  for  morals  and  intelligence,  wath  young  boys  who 
had  no  proper  apjDreciation  of  their  surroundings,  and  who 
were  not  disposed  to  be  studious  or  law-abiding.     The  for- 
mer consisted  of  candidates  for  the  ministry  and  others  of 
sufficient  maturity  of  age  and  purpose  to  induce  them  to  make 
the  wisest  use  of  their  time  and  opportunities.  The  latter  were 
just  of  the  class  always  found  in  schools,  and  even  in  colleges, 
who  seek  their  own  enjoyment  in  any  pursuit  rather  than  in 
books  and  study.     The  misfortune  was  that  these  last  were 
proportionally  numerous,  and  this  gave  them  confidence  in 
their   chosen    methods.     From   them   proceeded   all   those 
l^etty  annoyances  iu  which  idle  students  delight  to  engage 
for  the  j)urposes  of  disorder  and  trouble.      "College  tricks" 
of  mischief  became  very  common,  and  the  equanimity  of  the 
Faculty  was  often  distured  at  night  by  shouting  noises  on 
the  streets.     It  was  nearly  always  expected  that  some  exhi- 
bition of  low  practical  mischief  would  be  j)i'esented  on  the 
assembhng  of  the  Faculty  and  students  at  morning  prayer  in 
the  chapel.     This  course  of  things,  for  the  first  session,  was 
very  discouraging,  I  must  confess,  to  myself,  and  almost  in- 
duced a  conviction  that  I  had  committed  a  great  error  of 
judgment  in  undertaking  to  build  up  an  institution  of  such 
material.     But  I  will  cease  to  dwell  upon  these  matters 
further  than  to  add  that,  by  persistent  enforcement  of  dis- 
cipline, sometimes  of  the  rigid  kind,  and  at  other  times  of 
a  milder  character,  but  always  impartial,   and  adapted  to 
each  case  individually,  we  were  gratified  to  observe  a  steady 
and  sure,  though  gradual,  improvement  and  elevation  of  the 
character  of  the  student-body,  year  after  year,  until  after 
three  years  of  the  University  had  elapsed,  such  low  and  vul- 


Eeligious  Instruction.  529 

gar   hal3its    had   disappeared    from    among   the   students. 
AVhile,  therefore,  v>'e  cannot  record  such  a  state  of  conduct 
existing  as  approached  perfection,  yet  every  observer  might 
have  marked  the  reformation  of  manners  and  bearing  in 
their  public  association  with  the  community  from  time  to 
time.     The  annual  report  of  the  chancellor  to  the  directory 
gave  the  gratifying  statement  that  the  year  had  closed  ^Yith- 
out  a  case  of  discipline.     Religious  instruction  entered  into 
the  course  to  a  very  large  extent.     The  School  of  the  Bible 
vras  not  among  the  electives  at  all ;  it  was  required  of  every 
student,  and  for  the  attainment  of  anj^  of  the  degrees  in  the 
course,  it  formed  an  essential  prerequisite.     To  this  was 
added  that  Sabbath  instruction  was  imparted  to  every  stu- 
dent, and,  for  this  purpose,  he  was  required  to  attend  the 
Sabbath-school  of  some  evangelical  church  in  the  city,  at  the 
discretion  and  choice  of  the  parent  or  guardian.     At  an 
early  period  in  the  history  of  the  University  a  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  was  formed  among  the  students,  con- 
sisting of  active  and  associate  members,  and  this  proved  a  sig- 
nal advantage,  contributing  to  the  elevation  of  the  insti^.ution 
and  the  cultivation  of  the  Christian  character  of  the  students. 
Our  morning  worship  consisted  of  music,  led  by  profes- 
sors who  were  scientific  musicians,  who  performed  on  a 
cabinet  organ,  and  there  was  among  the  students  a  regular 
choir  of  sijigers.     The  Bible  was  read  and  prayer  oftered. 
We  called  no  roll,  but  the  students  were  distributed  into 
classes  of  ten,  and  each  class  assigned  to  a  separate  seat  in 
the  chapel,  with  its  own  monitor,  furnished  with  a  card,  on 
which  were  written  the  names  of  his  class  of  ten,  and  his 
sole  duty  was  to  note  absentees,  and  hand  his  card  on  Sat- 
urday morning  to  the  presiding  officer,  and  receive  a  new 
card  for  the  ensuing  week.     Hymn-books   also  were   dis- 
tributed among  the  students,  and  it  was  really  enjoyable  to 
be  present  at  prayers  on  account  of  the  music,  in  which  the 
large  body  of  them  engaged,  with  perfect  decorum. 
34 


530  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

By  this  sort  of  control,  continued  for  some  time,  and  by 
tlie  j)ersonal  intercourse  Avbicli  was  established  between  the 
professors  and  the  students,  partaking,  as  far  as  was  possi- 
ble, of  the  family  natui'e,  that  disposition  which  seems  to 
have  prevailed  among  the  institutions  of  the  times  long 
passed,  and  which  seemed  at  first  also  to  be  very  generally 
characteristic  of  the  students  of  our  first  sessions,  viz.,  to 
look  upon  the  Faculty  as  antagonistic  to  the  student  body  in 
iheir  feelings,  to  our  great  gratification,  gradually  disaj)- 
peared,  and  the  relations  which  ultimately  obtained  between 
iis  became  most  pleasant  and  confidential. 


CHAPTER   LIV. 

Peoceedixgs  and  Action  of  the  Boaed. -Eesignation  of  Peofessob 
DiNwiDDiE.- Election  of  Pkofessok  Massie. —Resignation  of 
Peofessoe  Hemphill.  -Election  of  Peofessoe  Nicolassen.— Es- 
tablishment OF  A  Chaie  and  Its  Endowment. —Election  of  De. 
Welch. -Refusal  of  Presbytery  to  Dissolve  Pastoeal  Rela- 
tion. -De.  Peice  Elected  and  Accepting. 

THE  University  continued  the  even  tenor  of  its  way,  with- 
out any  change  of  a  material  kind,  until  Commencement 
on  the  first  Wednesday,  the  2d  of  June,  1880.     The  usual 
preliminary  exercises  connected  with  the  occasion  were  all 
successfully  passed   through.     The  directory  met  on  May 
28th,  and  closed  their  session  on  Wednesday,  June  2d,  eight 
being  present.     No  new  or  important  items  occupied  the 
Board,  but  the  chancellor  delivered  his  inaugural  addi-ess, 
and  he  was  regularly  installed  in  the  office  in  which  he  had 
been  acting  for  a  year  past,  the  keys,  emblematic  of  au- 
thority, being  delivered  to  him  by  Eev.  Dr.  Palmer,  accom- 
panied by  a  brief  and  cordial  address.     We  closed  with  a 
Faculty  as  full  in  nmnber  as  our  means  of  payment  would 
admit  at  the  time,  and  we  had  been  remarkably  successful 
in  collecting  the  entire  income  due  from  students  for  Uni- 
versity charges,  amounting  to  nearly  $3,000,  to  which  was 
added  the  semi-annual  dividend  arising  from  the  endow- 
ment fund,  which  was  $3,000.     We  felt,  therefore,  that  we 
had  thus  far  reahzed  our  anticipations  of  success,  and  we 
"thanked  God,  and  took  courage." 

The  Professorship  of  Mathematics  was  vacated  after 
Commencement  by  the  resignation  of  Professor  Dinwiddle, 
and  we  were  caUed  upon  unexpectedly  to  fill  this  chair,' 

531 


532  John  N.  AYaddel,  I).  D.,  LL.  D. 

"which  could  he  done  only  lyrocisionally  by  the  Executive 
Committee,  as  the  Board  of  Directors  had  adjourned  and 
could  not  be  assembled  at  Clarksville  conYenieutly. 

We  met  for  this  j^urpose  accordingly,  and  proceeded  to 
read  testimonials  and  discuss  the  claims  of  candidates  "who 
had  been  nominated.  Out  of  the  foUowing  list  of  names, 
Adz.  :  D.  B.  Johnson,  of  Knoxville ;  G.  B.  Halstead,  of 
Princeton ;  C.  C.  Norwood,  of  Georgia,  and  E.  B.  Massie,  of 
Charlottesville,  Va.,  we,  by  a  unanimous  vote,  elected  the 
last  named  gentleman,  IVIr.  E.  B.  Massie,  Professor  of 
Mathematics. 

We,  of  course,  could  not  object  to  either  of  his  competi- 
tors, as  they  were  all  alike  entire  strangers  to  us,  but  the  re- 
sults which  have  followed  the  choice  of  Professor  Massie  in 
the  history  of  his  connection  with  the  University,  and  the 
universal  testimony  of  Faculty,  directors,  and  all  the  succes- 
sive bodies  of  students  that  have  enjoyed  the  benefit  of  his 
instruction,  and  the  influence  of  his  personal  and  social  in- 
tercourse with  them,  would,  if  ascertained,  be  that  we  were 
certainly  wisely  guided  in  our  seleciion,  and  that  we  secured 
"the  right  man  in  the  right  place."  The  Board  ratified 
this  action  of  the  Executive  Committee  at  their  next  meet- 
ing. Two  facts  may  be  recorded  as  occurring  during  this 
session  which  (although  in  one  of  them  I  was  personally 
concerned)  exerted  some  influence  upon  the  interest  of  the 
University.  On  the  11th  of  February  of  this  year  I  became 
conscious  for  the  first  time  of  my  having  symptoms  of  a  dis- 
ease that  has  never  been  entirely  remedied  or  eradicated 
from  m}"  system,  although  every  possible  and  almost  every 
conceivable  effort  of  an  earthly  nature  has  been  resorted  to 
by  phj'sicians  to  the  present  time  after  the  lapse  of  eight 
years.  I  was  for  five  of  those  years  a  great  sufferer,  and 
yet  continued  to  serve  as  best  I  could  as  Chancellor  of  the 
University.  The  result,  however,  need  not  be  anticipated, 
as  it  will  have  its  record  at  the  ^^roper  time  in  the  j^i'ogress 
of  this  narrative. 


A  Generous  Donation.  533 

Another  matter  claims  notice  just  now  bearing  directly 
upon  che  fortunes  of  the  institution,  which  was  the  election 
of  Professor  C.  E.  Hemphill,  of  our  Faculty,  to  the  position 
of  "Associate  Professor  of  Biblical  Literature,  with  the  sal- 
ary of  full  Professor "  (and  a  year  later,  on  the  death  of 
Dr.  Howe,  he  succeeded  to  the  full  chaii-  of  "  Biblical  Lit- 
erature," covering  the  "Exegesis  of  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ments, as  well  as  instruction  in  the  Hebrew  Language  and 
New  Testament  Greek")  in  the  Columbia  Theological  Semi- 
nar}^, his  acceptance  of  the  appointment,  and  his  resignation 
of  the  Professorship  of  Ancient  Languages  in  our  University. 
He  had  filled  this  chair  for  three  years  with  signal  ability 
and  universal  acceptance,  and  his  departure  was  felt  to  be  a 
great  loss  to  the  University  and  the  community,  and  espe- 
cially regretted  by  the  social  Faculty  circle,  which  was  much 
devoted  to  him  and  his  charminof  familv. 

The  attention  of  the  Board  was  called  at  once  to  the  fill- 
ing of  two  important  chairs ;  one  vacated  by  the  resignation 
of  Professor  Hemphill.  The  occasion  for  the  filhng  of  the 
other  needs  a  brief  explanation. 

The  professorship  of  History,  English  Literature  and 
Elocution  had  been  filled  at  the  re-organization  of  the  Uni- 
versity in  1879  by  the  appointment  of  Rev.  Dr.  Shearer, 
and  he  had  been  conducting  the  instruction  in  that  school, 
and  at  the  same  time  he  had  been  charged  with  teaching 
the  Bible.  The  work  required  by  these  two  departments 
was  manifestly  too  onerous  for  one  incumbent,  and  it  had 
been  the  purpose  of  the  Board  to  appoint  an  additional 
professor  as  soon  as  the  requisite  endowment  could  be  se- 
cured. Just  about  this  time,  Mr.  J.  J.  McComb,  near  the 
city  of  New  York,  made  the  generous  donation  of  $30,000 
as  the  basis  of  a  professorship  (through  Rev.  Dr.  Palmer)  to 
the  University.  This  being  presented  at  this  meeting,  the 
Board  proceeded  at  once  to  make  use  of  it  for  the  support 
of  the  additional  chair;  and  as  Dr.  Shearer  preferred  the 


534  John  N.  AVaddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

chair  of  Biblical  Instruction,  it  was  resolved  that  lie  should 
now  be  made  professor  in  that  school,  and  that  it  should  be 
placed  in  the  same  grade  with  those  already  estabhshed.  In 
the  meantime  they  proceeded  to  fill  the  chair  of  History, 
etc.,  and  rested  its  support  upon  the  McComb  fund  just 
presented.  The  Board  at  once  then,  by  a  unanimous  vote, 
elected  to  this  position  Rev.  Thos.  B.  Welch,  D.  D.,  one  of 
the  Directors  from  Arkansas.  Dr.  W.  being  present,  signi- 
fied his  willingness  to  accept  the  appointment  subject  to  the 
action  of  the  session  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Little 
Bock,  of  which  he  was  pastor.  There  were  several  candi- 
dates for  the  chair  of  Ancient  Languages,  and  among  them 
gentlemen  of  eminent  qualifications  according  to  highly 
complimentary  and  satisfactory  testimonials.  The  election 
resulted  in  the  choice  of  G,  F.  Nicolassen,  Ph.  D.,  of  Johns 
Hopkins  University.  So  that  our  Faculty  was  now  in- 
creased in  number  and  efficiency  by  filling  the  McComb 
Professorship.  On  June  7th  the  Board  met  and  brought 
their  business  to  a  close  by  electing  Bev.  Dr.  Welch  vice- 
chancellor.  We  closed  the  exercises  of  the  academic  year, 
and  dismissed  the  students  for  the  long  summer  vacation  of 
three  months,  to  open  again  on  September  1st. 

The  Board  made  provision  previous  to  adjournment  for 
meeting  any  emergency  that  might  occur  in  case  of  a  re- 
fusal, on  the  part  of  the  Presbytery  of  Arkansas,  to  allow 
Dr.  Welch  to  leave  the  Little  Bock  church,  by  which  the 
execittive  committee  were  instructed  to  elect  Dr.  Bobert 
Price  to  the  professorship  of  English  Literature.  Informa- 
tion was  in  due  time  received  from  Bev.  Dr.  Craig,  who  had 
attended  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  as  the  representa- 
tive of  the  directory  for  the  purpose  of  urging  them  to  dis- 
solve the  pastoral  relation,  and  also  from  Dr.  Welch  him- 
self, to  the  efiect  that  the  Presbytery  refused  to  consent  to 
the  dissolution.  These  letters  were  received  by  me  while  I 
was  absent  from  home,  on  July  31st,  at  Wankeshaw,  whither 


Increase  of  Patronage.  535 

I  had  gone  to  spend  a  season  for  my  broken  health.  I  at 
once  "wrote  to  Dr.  Lupton  at  Clarksville,  and  urged  that  a 
meeting  of  the  executive  committee  be  called  at  once,  and 
that  they  should  carry  into  effect  the  instructions  of  the 
Board,  and  elect  Dr.  Eobert  Price,  of  Vicksburg,  Miss.  This 
■was  done  by  them,  and  in  process  of  time  he  accepted  the 
call,  and,  being  released  by  his  Presbytery  (Central  Missis- 
sippi), he  resigned  the  charge  of  the  church  in  Vicksburg,. 
made  his  arrangements  at  once,  and  effected  his  removal, 
arriving  at  Clarksville  on  September  8th,  and  was  engaged 
in  regular  work  on  the  11th.  Dr.  Nicolassen,  the  newly- 
elected  Professor  of  Languages,  who  had  arrived  on  the 
30th  of  August,  was  at  work  at  a  very  early  period  of  the 
session;  and  as  large  accessions  of  new  students  were 
arriving  daily  by  every  train,  the  usual  degree  of  pleasant 
excitement  consecjuent  upon  the  opening  of  a  new  session. 
j)revailed,  and  all  concerned  found  themselves  very  closely 
engaged  in  the  several  departments  of  work  assigned  to 
each  in  his  sphere. 

We  had  very  little  interruption  to  our  internal  progress 
this  entire  session,  slight  cases  of  discipline  only  occurring 
occasionally,  easily  disposed  of  without  rigid  application  of 
correction.  The  scholarship  of  the  student-body  was  im- 
proved, their  deportment  much  more  manly  and  dignified, 
and  the  patronage  handsomely  increased.  I  find,  on  a  re- 
view of  the  first  four  sessions  of  the  University,  ending  in. 
1883,  that  the  improvement  was  steady  and  gradual  in 
every  desirable  respect  as  regards  the  character  of  the  stu- 
dent body.  It  is  attributable,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  to 
some  extent  to  the  nature  of  the  system  of  discipHne  in. 
operation,  as  already  alluded  to,  and  to  the  additional  fact 
that  there  was  every  year  an  addition  of  pious  students.  It 
is  admitted  that  such  an  influence  as  this  last  is  not  so 
effective  always  as  may  be  expected,  and  as  should  be,  from, 
the  nature  of  the  case.     But  when  we  observe  that  the  same 


536  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

deficiency  is  discovered  to  exist  in  society,  and  even  amongf 
the  membership  of  organized  churches,  it  may  be  accounted 
for  as  readily  in  the  one  case  as  in  the  other.  The  latter 
of  these  cases,  used  here  to  illustrate  a  fact,  it  would  seem, 
should  be  under  a  deeper  sense  of  obligation  to  elevate  and 
refine  public  morals,  from  their  more  extensive  experience, 
and  from  their  more  prominent  j)osition,  than  a  body  of 
students  occupying  a  comparatively  subordinate  j^osition. 
Yet  while  the  churches  are  not  exerting  an  universal  influ- 
ence for  good,  we  should  find,  by  their  expulsion,  or  their  ab- 
sence from  any  community,  the  disastrous  consequences 
that  would  immediately  follow.  Just  so  the  presence  of  a 
greater  or  less  infusion  of  the  element  of  piety  into  any  stu- 
dent body  will  be  the  means  of  a  perceptible  correspondent 
and  relative  elevation  and  refinement  of  character  of  the 
mass  of  the  students.  They  are  a  part  of  "  the  salt  of  the 
earth,"  and  act  as  the  preservative  element. 

We  find,  in  the  announcement  of  the  year  lS86-'87,  the 
statement  that  Mr.  S.  B.  Steers,  of  New  Orleans,  had  estab- 
hshed  a  fund  of  $500  a  year  as  a  pious  memorial  of  his  son, 
Edward  C.  Steers,  deceased,  to  be  used,  under  the  direction 
of  the  Faculty  of  the  Southwestern  Presbyterian  University, 
in  aiding  candidates  for  the  ministry  in  the  institution,  sub- 
ject to  such  regulations  as  may  seem  wise.  I  add  to  this 
that  this  amount  of  $500  was  regularly  remitted  by  the 
donor,  Mr.  Steers,  in  prompt  quarterly  payments  during  his 
life.  At  his  death,  he,  by  bequest,  left  the  sum  of  ten  thou- 
sand dollars  for  this  purpose,  the  interest  of  which  sum 
only  is  to  be  used. 

Two  other  distinguished  gentlemen,  friends  of  the  insti- 
tution, generously  aided  in  the  support  of  needy  candidates 
for  the  ministry,  provided  they  were  represented  by  proper 
authority  as  promising,  as  well  as  needy. 


CHAPTEK    LY. 

DiTixiTY  School  Established. —Electiox  of   Pkofessoe,    and   the 
Chaib  Endowed.  — Dr.  Caldwell's  Resigxatiox. 

IT  should  be  understood,  and  is  here  recorded,  that  in  the 
original  organization  of  the  rniversity  it  was  the  design 
of  the  Board  of  Directors  to  enlarge  the  sphere  of  its  ojDera- 
tions,  so  as  to  make  it  what  its  name  would  naturally  imx^ly, 
a  comprehensive  combination  of  such  other  schools  as  the 
nature  of   the    case    demands,    and  as  the  means   and  re- 
sources at  their  control  would  authorize.     Especially  was  it 
contemplated  that  a  "  School  of  Divinity,"  or  a  "  Theological 
Seminary,"  should  constitute   a  prominent  part  of  the  sys- 
tem.    The  constantly  increasing  number  of  candidates  pre- 
senting themselves  annually  for  admission  into  our  classes, 
preparatory  to  their  entrance  uiDon  the  study  of  theoloo-y 
and  cognate  departments,  some  of  whom  were  already  grad- 
uated from  the  Department  of  Literature  and  Science,  im- 
pressed upon  the  minds  of  the  members  of  the  Board  the 
urgent  importance   of    carrying  out   this  scheme,  and  the 
time  seemed  propitious  for  inaugurating  the  school  at  the 
the  earliest  period  possible.     Accordingly,    at    the   annual 
meeting  of  the  Board  in  1884,  it  was  decided  unanimously 
to  add  a  theological  school  to  this  University.     In  pursu- 
ance of  this  purpose,  the  follo^^dug  action  was  taken : 

"  1.  The  School  of  Theology  shall  be  a  component  part  of 
the  University,  in  the  same  mani:\er  and  under  the  same  reo-u- 
lations,  and  under  the  same  general  supervision  of  the  Chan- 
cellor, as  the  other  schools  now  existing. 

"2.  The  instruction  in  Theology^  Didactic,  Historic  and 
Polemic,  is  assigned  to  the  Professor  of  Theology :  the  He- 

537 


538  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

brew  and  New  Testament  Greek,  is  j)laced  under  the  charge 
of  Dr.  J.  B.  Shearer ;  Church  History,  under  that  of  Dr. 
Price ;  Church  Pohty,  under  that  of  Dr.  "Waddel ;  and  Dr. 
J.  W.  Luj)ton  is  requested  to  give  instruction  in  PastoiaL 
Theology. 

"  This  general  outhne  is  intended  to  give  to  the  professor 
of  theology  the  assurance  of  the  support  he  will  need  in 
the  office  of  instruction.  It  may  be  modified  to  any  extent 
by  conference  between  himself  and  the  Faculty  of  the  Uni- 
versity, when  he  shall  take  the  work  in  hand  to  which  he  is 
chosen. 

"The  School  of  Theology  will  be  open  for  the  reception  of 
students  September  1st,  1885." 

The  Board  at  once  felt  the  necessity  of  placing  this; 
gre^t  trust  in  the  hands  of  the  right  man  as  professor,. 
and  by  a  common  impulse  a  committee  was  ajDpointed  to 
wait  on  Dr.  Palmer,  and  ascertain  his  views  as  to  accept- 
ance of  the  professorship.  He  very  clearly  and  unequivo- 
cally declined  to  entertain  the  idea.  On  Monday,  June 
2d,  the  Board  proceeded  to  an  election  of  a  professor  of 
theology,  which  resulted  in  the  choice  of  Rev.  E.  L.  Dab- 
ney,  D.  D.  By  order  of  the  Board  I  wrote  a  long  and 
earnest  letter  to  Dr.  Dabney,  which  was  signed  by  Dr. 
Palmer,  Dr.  Welch,  and  myself,  and  entrusted  to  Dr.  Mar- 
shall to  deliver  to  the  Doctor  personally.  On  June  21st,  I 
received  a  long,  kind,  and  yet  decisive  letter  from  Dr.  Dab- 
ney, declining  the  professorship  to  which  he  had  been 
elected.  This  was  greatly  to  our  disappointment,  but  we 
were  now  called  upon  to  devise  a  method  by  which  this 
difficulty  could  be  met,  so  as  to  fill  the  chair  in  time  for  the 
session  of  1885.  At  a  meeting  of  the  executive  commit- 
tee, held  on  September  24th,  at  which  Dr.  Palmer  was 
present,  the  question  was  discussed — first,  as  to  the  pro- 
priety of  conducting  an  election  by  correspondence ;  and, 
second,  by  nominating  a  candidate  and  addressing  a  circu- 


A  Professor  of  Theology.  539- 

lar  to  each  director  individually,  requesting  him  to  note  by 
letter  his  aiDproval  or  disapproval.     After  much  discussion, 
the  name  of  Eev.  Dr.  J.  E.  AVilson  was  presented  as  the 
nominee   for   the  chair  of  Theology,    and   a  circular  was 
agreed  upon,  a  copy  of  which  was  to  be  forwarded  by  mail 
to  each  director  for  his  consideration.     This  was  done,  and 
in  due  course  of  time  answers  were  received  from  all,  indi- 
cating, by  a  large  majority,  their  acceptance  of  Dr.  "Wilson 
as  professor  of  theology.     He  was  written  to  officially  and 
informed  of  his  election,  and  signified  his  willingness  to  ac- 
cept the  appointment.     Thus  we  were  enabled  to  announce 
through  our  catalogue  that  the  School  of  Theology  would 
form  a  prominent  department  of  the  University  at  the  open- 
ing of  the  session  1885,  with  Dr.  Wilson  as  principal  pro- 
fessor.   There  was  not  a  dollar  of  endowment  provided  at  the 
time,  but  the  Board  aj^pointed  Eev.  E.  F.  Bunting,  D.  D., 
agent  for  the  purpose  of  raising  the  funds  for  that  pui-pose, 
and  Dr.  Bunting  entered  at  once  upon  the  work  assigned 
him.     In  the  meantime,  provisional  pledges  were  secured  in 
the  six  Synods,  from  friends,  to  ensure  the  payment  of  tha 
salary  of  the  professor  until  such   time  should  elapse  as 
might  be  necessary  when  the  endowment  would  be  com- 
pleted, invested  and  productive.     We  may  dismiss  this  mat- 
ter by  stating  that  the  blessing  of  God  crowned  the  enter- 
prise with  perfect  success,  and  that  the  chair  in  due  lime 
W'as  fully  established. 

It  is  a  most  gratifying  fact,  that  the  estabhshment  of  this 
department  of  the  University  at  so  early  a  period  in  the  his- 
toiy  of  the  University  was  reahzed  under  circumstances  so 
entirely  satisfactory.  When  we  remember  that  there  was 
not  in  the  treasury  of  the  University  one  dollar  which  might 
be  devoted  to  the  support  of  the  Divinity  School,  nor,  at  its 
inauguration,  any  pledges  from  any  source  that  such  sup- 
port should  be  furnished ;  and  yet  that  the  Board  of  Direc- 
tors had  the  strong  conviction  that  induced  them  to  ^o  for- 


540  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

■\\'ard  iu  the  work ;  it  was  verilv  no  other  than  an  act  of 
faith  in  the  God  of  infinite  wisdom  and  love,  under  whose 
guidance  the  institution  had  thus  far  been  so  signally  sus- 
tained, and  had  been  built  up  in  honor  and  usefulness  to  his 
church.  This  is  the  true  secret  of  all  success,  and  it  is 
cause  of  grateful  remembrance,  on  a  review  of  this  part  of 
the  Board's  administration,  that  this  strong  and  fervent 
faith  in  God  was  inspired  into  their  hearts  and  strengthened 
them  to  go  forward  in  the  work.  And  now,  when  we  look 
into  the  progress  of  events  in  connection  with  that  period 
which  has  elapsed  since  the  actual  opening  of  the  Divinity 
School,  our  conviction  of  the  propriety  of  its  organisation  is 
well  assured  by  the  fruits  which  have  resulted  in  the  com- 
pletion of  the  theological  courses  of  so  many  young  brethren, 
and  their  prompt  entrance  upon  the  work  of  preaching  the 
gospel  in  various  parts  of  our  Southern  Zion. 

The  resignation  of  Dr.  John  W.  Caldwell  of  the  chair  of 
Natural  Sciences,  which  he  had  filled  acceptably  for  many 
years,  rendered  it  necessary  that  we  should  take  steps  at  an 
early  period  to  supply,  as  far  as  possible,  the  vacancy  thus 
occurring.  The  executive  committee  in  this  case,  not  deem- 
ing it  advisable  to  go  into  even  a  provisional  election  of  a 
professor  who  should  be  recommended  to  the  Board  for 
confirmation  at  their  annaal  meeting,  were  fortunate  in  find- 
ing that  the  duties  of  the  chair  could  be  discharged  for  the 
remainder  of  the  session  by  Professor  E.  B.  Massie,  who 
was  not  only  iullj  qualified,  but  kind  enough  to  undertake 
the  additional  labor  of  instruction  that  would  be  necessary 
until  the  close  of  the  session. 

The  resignation  of  Dr.  Caldwell  was  felt  by  the  Faculty 
to  be  a  serious  loss  to  the  University,  and  a  series  of  resolu- 
tions were  passed  by  them  of  the  most  complimentary  chai'- 
acter,  expressive  of  their  sense  of  his  high  and  valuable  ser- 
vices and  usefulness  to  the  University,  as  well  as  their 
sincere  regret  in  the  loss  that  they  would  sustain  of  the  so- 


Close  of  Fifth  Session.  541 

ciety  of  himself,  and  that  of  his  refined  and  esteemed  family, 
from  our  circle  of  association.  Dr.  Caldwell  was  very  soon 
placed  iu  a  position  of  commanding  influence  and  useful- 
ness as  Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Geology,  and  curator  of 
the  Museum  in  Tulane  University,  New  Orleans.  Beyond 
the  exercises  usually  occurring  at  Commencement,  wliich 
were  creditable  in  1883,  nothing  of  remarkable  interest  is 
recorded,  except  the  matters  already  referred  to  above. 

Thus  ended  the  fifth  session  of  the  University,  during 
which  period  much  material  action,  mainly  preparatory,  had 
been  transacted  by  the  authorities,  and  the  actual  execution 
was  reserved  for  1881-'85. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  directors,  on  May  30th  to  June 
3rd,  inclusive,  the  vacancy  in  the  Stewart  professorship,  oc- 
casioned by  the  resignation  of  Professor  J.  "W.  Caldwell, 
was  filled  by  the  appointment  of  Professor  James  A.  Lyon, 
Ph.  D.,  by  a  unanimous  vote  of  the  Board.  Dr.  Lyon  was 
a  son  of  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Lyon,  D.  D.,  and  was  a  graduate  of 
Nassau  Hall,  Princeton,  New  Jersey,  where  he  had  held  a 
high  grade  as  a  student,  and  at  the  time  of  gradu'ition  had 
awarded  to  him  a  fellowship  for  superior  mathematical  at- 
tainments. He  had  filled  a  chair  in  Highland  Universitv,  in 
the  State  of  Kansas,  and  in  aw3ollegiate  institute  of  high  re- 
pute at  York,  Pa.,  and  at  the  time  of  his  election  to  the 
chair  at  Clarksville  he  held  the  professorship  of  Physical 
Science  in  the  Washington  and  Jefferson  College,  of  Penn- 
s^'lvania.  Dr.  Lyon  accepted  the  call,  and  entered  upon  the 
duties  of  the  chair  at  the  opening  of  the  session,  September, 
1885. 


CHAPTER   LYL 

Oeganization  of  the  Divinity  axd  Academic  Schools.  — Fikst  Class, 
— Sketch  of  Dk.  Welch. 

VE  opened  under  the  enlarged  system  established  and 
inaugurated  by  the  Board  September  8th  under  the 
following  Faculties  in  the  Academic  and  Divinity  Schools : 

ACADEMIC  FACULTY. 
John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Chancellor,  ProfessorinfheScfioolof 

P]iiloso2)Tty. 
Hev.  J.  B.  Sheaker,  D.  D.  ,  Professor  in  the  SchooC  of  Biblical  InstruC' 

tion. 
S.  J.  CoFFMAN,  A.  M.,  Professor  in  the  School  of  Modern  Languages. 
E.  B.  Massie,  a.  M.,  Professor  in  the  School  of  Mathematics. 
G.  F.  NicoLAssEN,  A.  M.,  Ph.  D.,  Professor  in  the  School  of  Ancient 

Languages. 
Bev.  Robert  Price,  D.  D.,  McComhProfessorin  tlie  School  of  History ^ 

English  Literature,  History  and  Rhetoric. 
J.  A.  Lyon,  A.  M.,  Ph.  D^  Steioart  Professor  in  the  School  of  Natural 

Sciences. 
N.  Smylie,  a.  B.  ,  Assistant  Professor  in  severed  Schools. 

FACULTY  OF  THE  DIVINITY  SCHOOL. 
Bev.  J.  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,    Chancellor,  Professor  of  Church 

Polity. 
-Rev.  Joseph  E.  Wilson,  D,  D.  ,  Professor  of  Theology  and  Homiletics. 
Eev.  J.  B.  Shearer,  D.  D.  ,  LL.   D. ,  Professor  of  Hebrew  and  New 

Testament  Greek. 
Rev.  Robert  Price,  D.  D.  ,  Professor  of  Ecclesiasticcd  History. 
Rev.  J.  W.  LuPTON,  D.  D.,  Professor  of  Practical  Theology. 

In  all,  there  were  twenty-one  candidates  for  the  ministiy 
pui'suing  the  ]3reparatory  studies,  and  there  were  sixteen 
who  constituted  the  first  class  of  the  Divinity  School.     This 

542 


Death  of  Kev.  Dr.  Welch.  543 

was  the  beginning  of  this  department,  and  was  the  only 
professional  course  as  vet  established.     It  closed  this  first 
session  with  most  satisfactory  results.     The  scheme  adopted 
contemplates  the  simple  principle  that  its  various  schools 
are  in  reality  but  one,   and  the  government  and  depart- 
ments bear  the  same  relation  to  the  University  as  do  those 
of    the   academic   schools.      The    two    Faculties   and    the 
discipline   are   one.      The   chancellor   is   the   chief   execu- 
tive and  the  presiding  officer  of  the  whole.     During  the 
progress  of  this  session  the  institution  was  caUed,  in  the 
providence  of  God,  to  a  great  affliction  in  the  loss 'of  Rev. 
Dr.  ^Yelch,  a  prominent  and  most  efficient  member  of  the 
Board  of  Directors  from  the  beginning  of  the  institution, 
and  who,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  vice-president  of  the 
Board.     Some  notice  of  such  a  man,  it  would  seem,  would 
very  naturaUy  accompany  the  history  of  the  Uuiversity  to 
which,  while  living,  he  was  so  devoted,  and  whose  inteiists 
he  served  so  long  and  so  efficiently. 

The  writer  of  this  sketch  had  known  Dr.  Welch  during 
the  preceding  thirty  years  of  his  Hf e,  and  for  a  great  part  of 
that  time  had  enjoyed  most  intimate  associations  with  him. 
At  the  period  of  his  untimely  and  unexpected  death  he  had 
attained  his  three-score  years.     He  was  an  alumnus  of  Cen- 
tre College,  of  forty  years'  standing,  in  its  day  of  prosperity, 
received  his  theological  training  at  New  Albany,  Indiana,' 
and  had  been  an  ordained  minister  of  the  gospel  during 
thii^v-fom'  years.     After  a  brief  term  of  service  with  the 
church  in  Helena,  Ark.,  he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the 
Fu'st  church,  in  Little  Rock.     Here,  for  nearly  a  quarter 
century,  he  labored  with  untiring  devotion,  and  the  result 
was  that  the  strong  attachment  which  he  felt  for  the  people 
was  met,  on  their  part,  by  a  responsive  devotion  and  love  for 
him.     In  all  theii-  spiritual  interests  he  was  their  trusted 
guide  and  counseUor.     To  him  they  resorted  for  advice  in 
perplexing  questions  of  duty,  and  always  found  him  pre- 


544  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

pared  to  direct  them,  careful-  to  impress  upon  them  always 
that  in  all  their  troubles  and  afflictions,  while  he  was  a  sym- 
pathizing fi'iend,  they  must  trace  all  their  deliverances  to 
the  God  of  all  comfort.  Sound  and  orthodox  in  his  creed, 
he  was  instructive  and  faithful  in  his  pulpit  ministrations. 
Thoroughly  skilled  as  a  presbyter,  he  was  an  acknowledged 
leader  in  all  cjuestions  of  church  polity,  and  was  remarkable 
for  his  executive  ability.  Hence  it  was  not  a  matter  of  sur- 
prise that  his  reputation  for  the  possession  of  these  valuable 
qualities  led  to  his  election  as  Moderator  of  the  Southern 
General  Assembly  in  1872.  He  stood  in  the  front  rank  of 
the  ministerial  corps  of  his  Synod  and  Presbytery,  and  was 
recognized  as  a  man  of  such  practical  wisdom  as  won  for 
him  universal  confidence  in  regard  to  the  public  interests  of 
the  State  and  nation. 

In  this  connection  the  writer  recalls  an  interesting  state- 
ment made  b}'  one  who  had  spent  some  time  in  Little  Rock, 
and  was  familiar  with  the  condition  of  affairs  in  the  State 
during  the  troublous  times  of  reconstruction,  strikingly  illus- 
trative of  the  modest,  wise,  and  unobtrusive  influence  of  Dr. 
Welch  upon  jDublic  affairs.  A  congressional  committee  had 
been  appointed  to  visit  the  State,  w^ith  a  view  of  investigat- 
ing the  condition  of  feeling  of  the  people  toward  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States,  and  to  report  the  result  to 
Congress  as  a  basis  of  legislation.  The  chairman  of  that 
committee  visited  Dr.  Welch's  church  as  a  worshipper.  Ob- 
serving him  as  a  stranger.  Dr.  Welch  accosted  him  cour- 
teouslv,  as  was  his  custom,  assuring'  him  of  a  cordial  wel- 
come,  and  inviting  him  to  attend  divine  service,  with  the 
certainty  that  he  should  always  be  shown  to  a  comfortable 
seat  whenever  he  might  attend.  Disarmed  by  such  unex- 
pected attention,  evidently  disinterested,  the  stranger  laid 
aside  all  prejudice,  and  during  his  stay  in  Little  Rock  sought 
opportunity  to  obtain  from  Dr.  Welch  the  needed  informa- 
tion upon  the  subject  of  his  mission.     This  was  furnished 


Eev.  Dr.  Welch.  545 

by  Dr.  Welch  in  a  manner  that  carried  conviction  of  its 
truthfulness  along  Tv^ith  it,  and,  in  connection  with  other  in- 
fluences, led  to  the  preparation  and  presentation  of  such  a 
report  by  that  committee  as  to  defeat  entire!}'  the  object  of 
the  bitter  partisans  who  had  organized  the  movement,  and 
ultimately  resulted  in  a  peaceful  settlement  of  all  j)ubhc  trou- 
ble. This  fact  is  given  as  an  illustration  of  the  wise  and 
judicious  influence  exerted  by  Dr.  Welch,  not  only  as  a 
Christian  minister,  but  as  a  Christian  patriot. 

His  term  of  active  service  in  Little  Eock  was  brought  to 
a  close  by  alarming  symptoms  of  dechning  health,  which 
imperatively  demanded  a  cessation  of  ministerial  labor  and 
a  residence  in  a  more  genial  climate.  His  capacity  for  ac- 
curate business  matters  suggested  to  influential  friends  in, 
government  circles  the  idea  of  a  temporary  appointment  to 
some  office,  the  duties  of  which  would  not  be  onerous,  and 
the  location  healthful.  Accordingly,  the  appointment  of 
United  States  Consul  at  the  city  of  Hamilton,  Ontario,  Can- 
ada, tendered  to  him  and  accepted,  seemed  to  j)romise  all  that 
was  desired  ;  and  for  nearly  a  year  there  was  the  most  grati- 
fying j)i'ospect  of  a  complete  restoration  of  health.  Not- 
withstanding the  almost  constant  service  rendered  by  him 
to  the  Presbyterian  people  of  that  city  in  preaching  to  their 
large  congregations,  he  continued  to  improve,  and  his  friends 
were  cheered  by  confident  hopes  that  he  would  ultimate!/ 
regain  his  health,  and  liv^  to  perform  many  years^  service  to 
the  church  and  to  the  world.  The  insidious  disease  of  the 
heart  still  lurked  in  the  system,  and  only  awaited  occasion 
to  complete  its  fatal  work.  At  a  most  unexpected  and  sud- 
den moment,  at  eleven  o'clock  of  the  night  of  Thursday, 
March  25th,  *'the  silver  cord  was  loosed,  the  golden  bowl 
was  broken,  the  pitcher  was  broken  at  the  fountain,  and  the 
wheel  broken  at  the  cistern,"  and  the  mysteriously-wroughfc 
machinery  was  brought  to  a  full  stop. 

The  "work  of  life  was  done;  the  burden  was  laid  down;. 
35 


546  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

the  sen-ant  of  God  was  called  from  labor  to  rest,  haYing- 
been  faithful  in  every  station  assigned  him  in  the  providence 
of  God  :  having  filled  every  relation  binding  him  to  others  ; 
liaving  met  every  obligation  grov^^ing  out  of  those  relations, 
lie  had  won  the  universal  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he 
had  been  associated.  A  devoted  husband ;  a  generous  and 
affectionate  kinsman ;  an  upright,  wise,  and  loyal  citizen ; 
an  instructive  and  scriptural  minister  of  the  gospel ;  a  man 
of  most  liberal  spirit  in  all  matters  of  Christian  benevolence ; 
in  a  word,  a  man  of  God.  He  will  long  be  missed  and  re- 
gTetted  in  all  these  positions  and  relations.  The  church 
mourns  the  departure  of  one  of  her  most  efficient  and  trusted 
servants.  The  College  at  Bates ville,  Ark.,  and  the  L^niver- 
sity  at  Clarksville,  Tenn.,  of  whose  boards  of  trust  he  had 
been  a  prominent  and  valued  member  from  their  origin, 
liave  sustained  an  almost  irreparable  loss.  It  would  seem 
that  all  over  the  Southwest,  which  was  the  scene  of  his  Hfe- 
work,  the  cry  will  spontaneously  go  up,  "Help,  Lord,  for 
the  godly  man  ceaseth,  for  the  faithful  fail  from  among  the 
children  of  God." 


CHAPTEK  LVII. 

Fli.riNG  Vacancies  on-  the  Boabd.-Wiihmawai,  fkom  the  Boabd  bt 
Synod  of  Texas. -Sketches. -Paiuno  Health  and  Resignation 

THE  Synod  of  Arkansas  proceeded  to  fill  the  vacancy  in 
the   Board,   which   was   caused  bv   the   death  of  Dr 
Welch,  by  the  election  of  Eev.  ^V.  A.  Sample,  D.  D.,  and  the 
vacancy  caused  by  the  removal  to  Texas  of  Eev   Dr  Eav 
mond,  of  Alabama,  was  fiUed  by  the  appointment  of  Eev 
J.  M.  P.  Otts,  as  the  representative  of  that  Sj-nod  on  the 
Board.     It  was  during  the  session  of  1886-'87,  at  the  faU 
meetmg  of  the  Synod  of  Texas,  that  this  body  resolved  to 
sever  its  connection  with  the  Southwestern  Presbyterian 
University.     Accordingly,  on  the  roll  of  the  Board,  as  pub- 
lished in  the  catalogue  of  that  session,  the  number  of  co 
operating  Synods  is  reduced  from  sis  to  five.     The  names  of 
two  most  beloved  and  highly-esteemed  directors,  and  two 
whose  ardent  devotion  and  zealous,  active  work  for  its  pros 
perity  had  never  been  excelled,  appear  no  more  recorded 
upon  our  annual  catalogue.     Their  absence  from  the  annual 
meetings  of  the  Board  was  a  conspicuous  event  in  our  his- 
tor,-^  as  ,t  was  known  to  aU  our  friends  that,  on  no  occasion 
of  the  assembly  of  the  directors  had  either  of  them  ever 
been  absent,  save  when  unable  to  attend  bv  reason  of  sick- 
ness, and  this  had  occurred  on  only  a  singk  occasion,  in  the 
case  of  Eev  Dr.  King;  while,  in  the  experience  of  the  ven- 
erable Dr.  W.  K.  Marshall,  dating  his  membership  from 
the  very  origin  of  the  institution,  his  attendance  at  Clarks- 
viUe  was  never  known  to  fail.     These  gentlemen  were  sur- 

S47 


548  John  N.  AYaddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

rendered  by  us  with  the  deepest  regret,  for  the  additional 
reason  that  their  ■s\isdom  and  experience  contributed  greatly 
to  the  estabhshment  of  those  grand  fundamental  principles 
which  lie  at  the  basis  of  true  Christian  education,  to  which, 
indeed,  this  institution  is  so  largely  indebted  for  its  solid 
prosperity.  A  singular  fact  may  be  noted  in  this  connec- 
tion, that  neither  of  the  directors  fi'om  Alabama  last  elected 
"was  ever  present  at  any  meeting  of  the  Board,  occasioned 
by  providential  events  and  circumstances  beyond  their  con- 
trol. 

The  University  attained  its  highest  number  of  attendant 
students  during  the  session  of  1886-'87,  the  catalogue  for 
this  session  exhibiting  a  total  of  one  hundred  and  fifty.  Of 
these,  there  were  twenty-one  divinity  students,  being  an  in- 
crease of  five  on  the  class  of  the  preceding  session.  The 
Faculty  of  Arts  was  only  so  far  changed  as  to  have  elected 
Mr.  F.  W.  Morton,  of  Virginia,  to  fill  the  chair  of  adjunct  in. 
the  departments  vacated  by  the  resignation  of  Professor 
Smylie. 

My  health  continued  to  grow  more  and  more  feeble  during 
all  the  years  that  had  passed  from  1882,  at  which  time  the 
first  symptoms  of  decline  began  to  manifest  themselves.  I 
had  visited  during  the  vacations  "Waukesha  Springs,  and 
placed  myself  under  the  special  medical  treatment  of  distin- 
guished physicians  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  and  had 
used  many  remedies  which  were  recommended,  but  all  to  no 
purpose  ;  and  this  course  of  suffering  continued  for  five  ses- 
sions without  the  suspension  of  my  official  duties  or  my  ab- 
sence from  the  University  dui'ing  the  term.  Often,  how- 
ever, I  found  myself  suffering  much  j)ain  while  in  the  dis- 
charge of  the  needed  work  of  my  department.  This  condi- 
tion of  things  continued  until  the  opening  of  the  session  of 
1887-'88,  when,  after  a  struggle  of  about  five  weeks  with 
the  disease  which  I  had  fought  for  five  years,  I  was  forced 
to  succumb. 


Resignation  of  Chancellorship.  549 

Ou  the  30tli  of  September,  1887,  awaking  from  a  troubled 
sleep,  I  fouiid  myself  so  prostrate  with  fever  and  utter  phy- 
sical inability,  I  abandoned  all  effort  to  work.  Calling  in 
oui'  friend  and  family  physician.  Dr.  McCauley,  I  was,  from 
that  day  to  the  25th  of  October,  imder  his  treatment  for 
catarrh  in  a  most  aggravated  form.  On  consultation  with 
Dr.  ^Yright,  Dr.  McCauley  decided  that  I  should  at  once 
withdraw  from  all  work  and  responsibility  in  connection 
with  the  University,  and  that  I  should  pass  the  winter  in 
some  Southern  climate.  To  this  decision  I  submitted,  with 
the  approval  of  the  friends  and  colleagues  most  interested 
in  the  matter.  As  I  learned  subsequently',  however,  that 
my  disease  was  incurable,  in  the  opinion  of  the  attending 
physicians,  and  that  while  they  admitted  the  j)ossibility  of 
an  improvement  in  my  case  from  change  of  climate,  at  the 
same  time  they  asserted,  with  some  positiveness,  that  should 
I  be  sufficiently  improved  to  resume  work,  the  consequence 
of  such  a  step  on  my  part  would  be  inevitable  relapse  and 
fatal  termination.  Confiding  imphcitly  in  their  views,  as  to 
their  wisdom  and  skill,  on  consultation  with  my  devoted 
wife,  I  determined  to  tender  to  the  Board  of  Directors  my 
resignation  of  the  office  of  chancellor,  to  take  effect  on  Jan- 
uary 1st,  or  at  the  close  of  the  current  session,  as  might 
seem  best  for  the  interests  of  the  University. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  resignation,  one  of  the 
copies  having  been  prepared  and  forwarded  to  each  di- 
rector : 

"  Claeksville,  October  11,  1887. 

"  Dear  Brother  :  It  is  well  known  to  the  directors  that 
my  mind  for  several  years  has  been  much  occupied  with  the 
severance  of  my  connection  with  this  institution.  My 
present  failure  of  health  makes  it  imperative  that  I  should 
present  to  the  Board  individually  the  facts  in  the  case,  and 
I  desire  them  to  make  known  to  me  their  views  on  this  sub- 


550  John  N.  AVaddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

ject  as  speedily  as  possible.  After  making  an  honest  effort 
during  the  month  of  September  to  fulfill  the  duties  and  ob- 
ligations of  my  office,  I  find  myself  prostrated  and  unable 
to  perform  any  duty.  The  Faculty,  at  the  suggestion  of  my 
physicians,  have  divided  my  duties  among  them  so  that  my 
teaching  and  clerical  duties  are  being  carried  on  by  them. 

"  Two  physicians,  in  whose  judgment  I  have  confidence, 
decide  that  it  is  important  in  my  condition  that  I  should 
si^end  the  winter  in  a  climate  less  rigorous  than  this  ;  and 
it  is  also  then*  opinion  that  should  I  recover  sufficientl}^  to 
resume  my  duties,  I  would  again  succumb.  It  is  clearly 
my  duty,  under  such  circumstances,  to  tender  my  resigna- 
tion, to  take  effect  in  January,  or  at  the  end  of  the  sessional 
year,  according  to  your  wish.  I  leave  the  choice  of  these 
alternatives  to  you,  as  it  was  the  expressed  wish  of  several 
members  of  the  Board,  that,  even  in  case  of  failure  of 
health,  I  should  continue  my  connection  with  the  institu- 
tion during  the  sessional  year. 

"  And  nov/,  in  the  Providence  of  God,  I  feel  it  my  duty  to 
tender  my  resignation,  to  take  effect  at  such  time  as  you 
may  indicate.  Respectfully  and  truly, 

"  Jno.  N.  Waddel." 

To  this  I  received  answers  from  the  du'ectors,  accepting 
my  resignation,  which  took  effect  at  the  close  of  the  current 
session  in  June,  1888.  On  the  28th  of  October  we  arrived 
in  Pensacola,  Fla.,  and  there,  in  the  house  and  with  the 
family  of  C.  V.  Thompson,  who  had  married  my  youngest 
daughter,  and  had  resided  there  for  several  years,  we  spent 
the  winter,  and  left  there  on  April  23,  1888.  During  these 
five  or  six  months,  I  had  been  for  the  greater  part  of  the 
time  utterly  prostrate  in  health.  Under  the  blessing  of 
God,  upon  the  faithful  and  skilful  nursing  of  my  devoted 
•wife,  and  the  genial  influence  of  the  climate,  my  health  be- 
gan to  exhibit  evidence  of  gradual  improvement.     On  the 


Closing  Incidents.  551 

23d  of  April,  1888,  we  turned  oui'  faces  northward,  and 
leaving  Pensacola,  reached  Clarksville,  after  slight  delay  in 
visiting  friends  on  the  way,  on  May  1st. 

In  the  interval,   at  a  special  meeting  of   the  Board  of 
Directors  held  on  March  21st,  my  resignation,  which  had. 
•  been  assented  to  individually,  was  formally  accepted  by  the 
assembled  Board,  to  take  effect  in  June.     At  this  meetings 
the  Eev.  C  C  Hersman,  D.  D.,  was  unanimously  chosert 
chancellor,  which  he  accepted.     The  period  from  May  Isfc 
to   July   1st,   we   spent   in   Clarksville.      The    only    event 
worthy   of  historical   record  occurring   during   these   two 
months  was  the  annual  Commencement,  which  occupied  the- 
five  days  from  June  2d  to  6th  inclusive.     The  Board  met 
and  transacted  the  usual  routine  business  on  Saturday,  2d, 
On  Sabbath  evening,  after  an  address  of  great  eloquence  by^ 
Dr.  Palmer,  listened  to  with  profound  attention  by  an  im- 
mense audience  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  on  the  *'  Cen- 
tennial Memoiial  of  the  Origin  of  our  Church  in  the  United 
States ;  "  a  collection,  or  rather  a  subscription,  was  taken, 
which  resulted  in  the  sum  of  $6,000,  as  reported,  for  the  ad- 
ditional endowment  and  general  benefit  of  the  Southwesterrt 
Presbyterian  University.     On  the  evening  of  Wednesday, 
6th,  after  the  usual  exercises  on   Monday*,   Tuesday  and. 
Wednesday  mornings  had  been  performed  by  speakers  and 
others,  the  regular  inauguration  of  the  chancellor-elect,  Dr. 
C.  C.  Hersman,  was  publicly  attended  to,  and  the  keys  of 
office,  emblematic  of  his  authority,  w^ere  delivered  to  him, 
accompanied  by  a  brief  address  from  myself,  to  which  Dr. 
H.  responded  in  an  elaborate  discourse  on  "  DenomiaationaL 
Education." 

I  may  be  excused,  I  trust,  for  alluding  to  the  following* 
occurrence  which  closed  the  exercises  of  the  evening,  and 
with  them,  at  the  same  time,  brought  the  Commencement 
occasion  to  an  end.  As  I  sat  on  the  rostrum  after  the  inau- 
gural address  of  Dr.  H.  had  been  delivered,  to  my  great 


552  John  N.  "Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

surprise,  I  -^as  iDersonally  addressed  by  Dr.  Palmer  in  a 
speech  of  few  but  striking  "thoughts  that  breathed,  and 
^ords  that  burned,"  which  was  accompanied  by  the  un- 
Teiling  of  a  portrait  of  myself.  This  whole  occurrence  had 
heen  successfully  concealed  from  me,  and  from  the  first  con- 
ception of  it  to  the  actual  execution  of  the  plan,  I  was  kept , 
profoundly  in  the  dark.  The  portrait  w^as  executed  and 
presented  to  the  University,  wholly  at  the  expense  of  the 
artist,  Mr.  W.  J.  McCormick,  of  Clarksville.  Thus  ended 
my  public  connection  with  the  Southwestern  Presb}i:erian 
XTniversity,  and  since  that  occasion  I  have  occupied  the  posi- 
tion of  one  among  its  warmest  friends,  and  this  humble 
place  I  shall  continue  to  fill  so  long  as  my  life  may  endure. 


CHAPTEE  LTIII. 

•XJeneral  Beview.-What  is  a  Cheistian  Institutiox  ?-Closing  Ee- 

FLECTIONS  ON  THE  SUBJECT  OF  EDUCATION. 

TTPON  a  re^-iew  of  the  history  of  the  Southwestern  Pres- 
U    bjterian  University  there  will  be  found  one  peculiarity 
belonging  to  it  as  an  institution  of  learning,  which  cannot 
be  claimed  to  the  same  extent  by  any  other  school  of  its 
class  withm  my  knowledge.     Its  character  and  designation 
as  a  Christian  school,  and  under  the  control  and  direction 
of  the  church,  does  not  distinguish  it  from  others  in  the 
South,   which  are  entitled  to  the  same  description.     But 
^^'hile  aU   of  them  are  understood  to  give  to  their  general 
scope  and  design  a  genuine  stamp  of  Christian  instruction 
that  pervades  the  course  of  study,  the  method  of  discipHne, 
and  the  end  in  view,  and  while  it  is  true  that  to  a  certain  de' 
gree  the  Bible  in  some  of  these  institutions  is  a  text-book, 
I  am  not  aware  that  in  any  of  them  the  study  of  the  Bible 
constitutes    a    regularly   organized    course    of   compulsory 
study,  just  as  extensively  as  any  other  study  prescribed  in 
the  various  departments.     While  the  institution  is  organ- 
ized upon    the   plan   of  coordinate   schools    and   elective 
courses,  the  Biblical  Department  is  as  prominent  a  school 
as  any  one  of  the  eight  into  which  the  University  is  dis- 
tributed.    Moreover,  while  students  are  allowed  to  elect  the 
course  that  they  prefer,  it  is  a  fundamental  rule  that  every 
student  must  enter  the  School  of   "Biblical  Instruction;" 
and  while  in  the  courses  pursued  by  candidates  for  the 
various  degrees,  provision  is  made  whereby  other  studies 
may  be  omitted,  it  is  a  rigid  exaction  that  the  regular  com- 
pletion of  the  entire  Bible  course  shall  be  made  by  a  candi- 

553 


554  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

date  for  any  degree  whatever  conferred  by  the  University^ 
In  further  statement  of  details  on  this  point,  it  is  to  be 
noted  that  the  Bible  course  embraces  three  classes,  each  re- 
quiring a  full  session  for  its  completion,  and  each  class  is 
required  to  meet  the  professor  three  hours  weekly. 

It  will  appear  then,  from  thit:.  review,  that  the  Universitv,- 
whose  history  I  have  been  striving  to  present,  may  indeecl 
claim,  without  arrogating  anything  extravagant  in  its  pre- 
tensions, to  be  a  genuine  Christian  school  of  learning, 
and  that  the  Bible  constitutes  a  regular  text-book  required 
to  be  provided  by  every  student  who  enters  and  matriculates. 

It  would  seem  a  very  natui'al  decision  reached  by  every 
Christian  parent  in  this  day,  when  there  is  such  widespread 
agitation  going  on  in  oui'  country  of  the  question  of  the  ex- 
clusion of  the  Bible  from  our  public  schools,  that  this  insti- 
tution would  be  the  chosen  and  safe  place  to  which  to  en- 
trust their  children,  where  they  can,  withoiit  any  danger, 
receive  a  Christian  training.  I  repeat  that  no  reflection  is 
intended  upon  the  many  excellent  sister  institutions  of  our 
church  by  these  statements.  But  it  seems  only  justice  that 
the  extent  to  which  the  Bible  is  taught  in  this  University 
should  be  brought  fully  before  the  Christian  public. 

In  my  retirement  from  personal  connection  with  the  edu- 
cational interests  of  the  country,  I  trust  I  may  not  be  con- 
sidered as  presumptuously  obtruding  my  views,  somewhat 
more  in  exte?iso,  upon  this  great  subject,  to  which  I  have 
devoted  so  large  a  portion  of  my  life,  now  somewhat  pro- 
tracted. 

To  those  Avho  can  look  back  with  the  writer  for  more  than 
half  a  century,  there  is  nothing  that  is  more  remarkable  in 
this  review  than  the  progress  made  in  the  system  of  public 
education  in  all  parts  of  the  country.  This  statement  covers 
the  ground  in  every  respect,  and  embraces  every  particular 
which  enters  into  this  progress  as  an  element.  In  the  ex- 
tent of  the  system,  in  the  advanced  state  especially  of  the 


C0LLEGL\TE  StUDIES.  555 

instruction  in  science  in  all  departments  consequent   upon 
the  immense  discoveries  in  all  spheres  of  hnowledge  during 
the  half  centm-y,  now  not  far  from  its  close,  there  is  enough  to 
excite  the  astonishment  of  every  intelligent  observer  and  of 
every  reader  of  the  past.     This  enlargement  of  the  field  of 
scientific  education  has  grown  to  such  an  extent  as  to  force 
upon  some  of  our  oldest  and  most  prominent  educators  the 
discussion  of  the  question  of  the  elective  system,  and  to  re- 
sort to  some  expedient  whereby  only  those  studies  intro- 
ducing men  to  the  more  practical  pursuits  of  life  shall  be 
assigned  the  chief  place  in  the  undergraduate  course,  and 
the  classical  languages  either  excluded  or  substituted  by  the 
modern  languages.     This  has  been  done  to  considerable  ex- 
tent in  the  Southwestern  Presbyterian  University ;  and  yet 
the  ancient  classical  languages  hold  a  large  and  important 
jDlace  in  the  course  prescribed,  and  quite  a  goodly  prop)or- 
tion  of  the  students  elect  those  old  languages  among  those 
in  their  chosen  schedule  of  study.     It  is,  however,  a  great 
stimulus  to  this,  that  the  full  course  in  classical  literature  is 
required  of  all  candidates  for  the  degree  of  M.  A.  and  B.  A.,. 
and  in  B.  Ph.  the  Latin  language  is  required  to  some  ex- 
tent.    Altogether,  the  course  of  study  in  the  colleges  and 
universities  has  been  wonderfully  enlarged  and  extended, 
and  doubtless  much  improved  and  elevated.     The  number 
of  students  who  are  now  receiving  a  finished  education,  fit- 
ting them  for  the  varied  callings  of  life,  is  vastly  increased. 
But  we  are  by  no  means  at  the  point  of  advancement  to 
which  we  ought  to  aspire.     Many  of  our  best  men  are  op- 
posed to  the.  multipKcation  of  colleges  and  seminaries  of 
learning,  upon  the  ground  that  they  are  multiphed  beyond 
the  actual  necessity  of  the  countiy,  and  that  it  Avould  be  in- 
finitely better  that  we  should  combine  the  various  smaller 
institutions  into  one  large  "University  for  the  whole  country. 
This  view,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  put  foi-ward  in  1861 
by  some  of  our  educators,  but,  as  we  have  seen,  was  effec- 


556  J.  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

tually  opposed  by  others.  In  the  case  of  the  Southwestern 
Presbyterian  University,  the  field  was  narrowed  down  to  the 
limits  of  six  Southwestern  Synods ;  and  the  history  of  its 
progress  and  patronage  demonstrates  clearly  that  these 
limits  are  in  an  apparent-  process  of  curtailment,  and  that 
the  extent  of  its  territory  of  patronage  is  yet  to  be  con- 
tracted, and  the  source  of  strength  and  support  is  to  be 
found  nearer  home.  Texas  has  withdrawn  from  the  direc- 
toiy,  and  it  had  a  perfect  right  so  to  do,  having  its  own  in- 
stitutions. Ai'kansas  may  be  induced  to  do  the  same;  and 
so  may  Alabama,  not  because  of  any  want  of  kindly,  fi-ater- 
nal  spirit,  so  much  as  a  feeling,  which  is  natural,  and  well- 
nigh  universal,  that  each  S3Tiod  should  foster  and  promote 
its  own  institutions  that  are  nearer  to  them.  The  fact  is, 
that  a  mere  cursory  glance  at  the  catalogue  of  the  South- 
v\'estern  Presbyterian  University  will  convince  any  reader 
that  the  patronage  comes  mainly,  even  now,  from  the  States 
of  Tennessee  and  Mississippi,  included  in  the  Synods  of 
Nashville,  Memphis,  and  ]\Iississippi.  The  motive  that 
prompts  and  sustains  such  a  tendenc}^  may  be  called  by 
some  selfish,  but  there  are  two  facts  that  are  closely  con- 
nected wdth  it  which  give  it  plausibility  at  least.  One  is, 
that  by  increasing  the  number  of  educational  institutions 
you  increase  the  number  of  educated  citizens,  inasmuch  as 
these  institutions  are  brought  within  reach  of  a  greater 
number  of  persons  who  hve  near  their  location,  thus  curtail- 
ing the  expenses  of  travel  and  of  board.  The  other  is,  that 
it  is  the  true  interest  of  every  good  citizen  to  advance  the 
education  of  his  own  immediate  community  or  State. 

Under  such  circumstances,  the  immediate  region  over 
w^hich  the  Clarksville  institution  exerts  an  influence  should 
rally  to  its  suj)X)ort,  and  enable  its  working  friends  to  carry 
into  effect  the  great  system  of  Christian  education,  of  which 
it  is  one  of  the  genuine  representatives  and  zealous  advo- 
cates.    Thankful  for  patronage  and  friendly  interest  mani- 


Influence  of  the  University.  557 

fested  from  other  and  distant  States  and  communities,  this 
"University  must  look  mainly  to  its  ov^-n  immediate  region  for 
co-operation  and .  patronage.  Nor  is  it  too  much  to  say,  in 
behalf  of  the  institution,  that  it  has  done  in  the  past  a  great 
work  for  the  church  and  the  State,  and  is  still  engaged  in 
its  mission  of  diffusing  the  blessed  influence  of  Christian 
education  wherever  its  alumni  have  found  their  homes.  Its 
roll  of  ministerial  representatives  in  the  gospel  presents  over 
fifty  promising  workers ;  and  if  those  who  were  sent  forth 
from  Stewart  College,  the  nucleus  of  the  Southwestern  Pres- 
byterian University,  be  added,  the  number  will  be  found  to 
reach  more  than  sixty.  They  fill  many  churches  of  nine  or 
ten  of  our  Southern  States.  Six  others  have  taken  their 
lives  in  their  hands,  and  have  gone  to  the  foreign  field ;  and 
two  of  them  have  laid  down  their  lives  in  the  work  of  preach- 
ing the  gospel  to  the  heathen.  The  patronage  has  been 
found,  on  the  best  attainable  estimate,  to  have  averaged,  in 
twenty  years,  one  hundred  and  sixteen  in  attendance  an- 
nually; the  smallest  number  in  any  session  reaching  sev- 
enty-one, and  the  largest  attaining  one  hundred  and  fifty. 

At  the  close  of  my  term  of  service  the  institution  was  un- 
der promising  prospects  of  constant  advance  in  usefulness, 
both  in  the  school  of  di\inity,  and  of  literature,  science,  and 
art ;  and  were  its  material  and  financial  status  that  which  its 
high  claims  merit,  its  value  would  be  equal  to  that  of  the 
foremost  of  the  land. 

And  now,  in  my  retirement  from  the  long  and  laborious 
work  to  which  my  Hfe  has  been  devoted,  I  would  fain 
take  kind  leave  of  that  public  with  which  I  have  been  asso- 
ciated for  more  than  half  a  century.  Looking  back  over 
these  busy  years,  while  I  readily  recall  many  occurrences 
that  were  sad,  and  many  errors  of  judgment,  and  many  of 
those  weaknesses  inseparable  from  human  nature,  I  should 
be  recreant  to  every  sentiment  of  gratitude  to  God,  and  to 
the  many  noble  and  excellent  friends  w^ho,  under  his  guid- 


558  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL,  D. 

ance,  and  as  His  instruments  of  loving-kindness  and  tender 
mercy,  have  given  me  their  sympathy,  did  I  not  ackowledge 
their  "^ise  counsel,  and  their  valued,  effective  and  influential 
aid  during  my  entire  career.  My  brethren  in  the  ministry, 
and  laity  of  the  church ;  my  j)upils,  of  whom  so  many  have 
succeeded  in  filling  the  highest  positions  of  honor  and  use- 
fulness in  chui'ch  and  State ;  constituted  the  varied  circles 
crowded  with  those  who  always  held  high  place  in  my  heart's 
warm  affections  and  exalted  esteem.  To  them  have  I  turned 
in  days  of  darkness,  confident  of  that  aid  I  needed  in  conso- 
lation and  counsel ;  and  in  those  times  of  brightness  when 
my  humble  efforts  were  crowned  with  success,  equally  confi- 
dent of  their  partial  congratulations  and  approval — a  confi- 
dence never  too  sanguine  and  never  disax3pointed. 

Even  in  the  instances  of  j)rivate,  domestic  affliction, 
which  my  heavenly  Father  has  sent  in  his  loving  j^roviden- 
tial  dealings  with  me — dark  and  inscrutable  as  they  seemed 
at  the  time  of  their  occurrence — I  was  not  forgotten  by  my 
devoted  friends.  Let  me  subjoin  a  voluntary  tribute  to  my 
soldier  boy,  whose  untimely  end  is  recorded  in  the  body 
of  this  memoir,  on  page  425.  It  is  from  the  pen  of  my 
friend  and  former  colleague,  Professor  J.  R.  Blake,  of  South 
Carolina : 

fit  OT^^morl^m* 

Killed  by  a  fragment  of  shell  from  the  enemy,  at  Jonesboro', 
Ga.,  on  the  Ist  day  of  September,  1864, 

JOHN  GEAY  WADDEL, 
youngest  son  of  Eev.  J.  K  Waddel,  D.  D.  The  deceased  was  born 
in  Jasper  county,  Miss.,  on  the  21st  of  January,  1847,  and  enlisted  as 
a  volunteer  in  the  Army  of  Tennessee,  on  the  23d  of  January,  1864, 
being  then  just  seventeen  years  old.  In  the  ardor  of  his  youthful 
enthusiasm,  stimulated  by  a  generous  love  for  his  suflFering  country, 
he  cheerfully  forsook  the  endearments  of  his  loved  family  circle  for 
the  hardships  and  trials  of  the  camp,  resolved  to  sacrifice,  if  need  be, 
life  itself  in  defence  of  the  truth  and  the  right;  and  manfully  did  he 


Further  Bereavements.  559 

execute  this  youthful  resolution.  Amid  all  the  trials  of  this  perilous 
position  he  illustrated  the  model  soldier.  Quick  and  sprightly  in  his 
intellect,  amiable  and  gentle  in  his  disposition,  generous  and  noble  in 
his  impulses,  he  was  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him  ;  and  to  his  be- 
reaved family  and  friends,  a  recollection,  dearer  than  all  else,  is  that 
he  was  a  child  of  the  covenant,  dedicated  to  God  in  his  infancy,  and 
though  he  had  not  joined  the  church,  he  left  satisfactory  evidence 
that  he  had  made  his  peace  with  God. 

To  his  honored  parent  we  offer  our  tenderest  Christian  sympathies. 
Bereft  as  he  is  of  wife,  and  home,  and  property,  he  is  now  called  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  youngest  born — his  Benjamin.  Out  of  the 
depths  of  this  desolation  may  be  seen  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  God 
in  appointing  unto  his  darhng  boy  thus  to  die — to  die  young,  that  his 
life  might  be  comparatively  spotless  and  pure  ;  to  die  a  sacrifice  to  his 
country,  that  his  name  might  be  loved  and  honored  ;  to  die  a  Chris- 
tian, that  he  might  secure  the  crown  of  endless  felicity.         J.  E.  B. 

A  like  grief  I  was  called  to  endure  long  after  the  close  of 
the  civil  war,  in  the  loss  of  my  only  surviving  son,  George, 
"who,  after  having  passed  through  that  fearful  war  scoui*ge 
"which  occasioned  the  desolation,  physical  and  moral,  and,  to 
a  certain  extent,  spiritual,  of  our  country,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  entered  the  Sophomore  Class  of  the  University, 
in  1865,  at  the  beginning  of  my  administration  as  chancellor, 
and  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1868.  He  had  made  a 
profession  of  reUgion  during  the  war,  in  camp,  and  had  con- 
nected himself  with  the  Presbyterian  church.  After  gradua- 
tion, he  first  turned  his  attention  to  teaching,  in  which  occu- 
pation he  did  not  long  continue  to  take  much  interest,  as  he 
preferred  a  more  active  life ;  and,  being  fond  of  engineering, 
he  entered  upon  that  sort  of  business,  under  my  friend  and 
former  colleague,  Colonel  J.  L.  Meigs,  chief  engineer  of  tha 
Memphis  and  Little  Kock  raih'oad,  in  Arkansas.  Losing  his 
health,  he  left  the  line  of  the  railroad,  and  took  position  in 
the  ofiice  under  Col.  Meigs,  in  Memphis,  and  subsequently 
superintended  bridge-building  on  the  Paducah  and  Memphis 
railroad.  "Work  on  all  these  roads  being  suspended,  he 
joined  a  small  company  of  young  men  who  went  to  Texas  to 


560  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

get  into  some  employment.  AYhile  lie  resided  there,  and 
undergoing  much  privation  of  various  kinds,  I  was  much 
surprised  to  receive  from  him  a  most  remarkable  letter,  de- 
tailing the  exercises  of  his  mind  under  what  he  "was  con- 
vinced was  a  call  to  the  gos23el  ministry.  Our  correspond- 
ence on  this  subject  consisted  of  an  earnest  injunction,  on 
my  part,  to  him,  to  study  this  solemn  question  j)rayerfully 
and  deliberately,  and  pointing  out  to  him  the  various  topics 
upon  which  he  should  conduct  this  self-examination  to  make 
his  decision  in  view  of  the  responsibility  he  owed  to  the  all- 
seeing  Master.  The  result  was  that  he  was  soon  after  re- 
ceived as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry,  under  care  of  the 
Presbytery  of  "West  Texas,  spent  two  sessions  as  a  theologi- 
cal student  in  Union  Seminary;  and  having  been  licensed  to 
preach  by  his  Presbytery,  while  at  the  Seminary  he  spent 
many  Sabbaths  preaching  at  vacant  points.  He  left  the 
Seminary  in  March,  1878,  and  passed  through  Memphis  on 
his  way  to  Texas  to  meet  his  Presbytery.  He  spent  a  Sab- 
bath and  preached  in  the  Lauder  dale-street  church,  to  which 
I  was  then  ministering.  He  was  ordained  at  that  spring 
meeting  of  West  Texas  Presbytery;  married  Miss  Fannie 
Brownson,  of  Victoria,  and  at  once  removed  to  San  Saba,  as 
his  first  place  of  residence,  as  an  evangelist.  He  remained 
in  Texas  some  years,  and  removed,  by  invitation,  to  some 
feeble  churches  in  Arkansas,  where  he  led  a  most  laborious 
life  as  an  evangelist  for  two  years.  Thence  he  was  indted 
and  accepted  the  call  to  Batesville,  Ark.,  and  took  part  in  the 
instruction  of  the  Arkansas  College,  under  the  presidency  of 
Dr.  Long,  and,  at  the  same  time,  was  stated  suj)i3ly  of  the 
church  in  that  place.  AVhile  he  was  residing  there,  in  the 
month  of  November  he  was  attacked  with  the  disease  that 
ended  his  life.  In  a  visit  which  I  was  permitted  to  pay  him 
in  January,  I  advised  him  to  spend  the  winter  in  Florida, 
which  he  did.  On  his  way  he  spent  a  short  time  in  New 
Orleans,  and  my  brethren,  Drs.  Palmer  and  Markham,  paid 


Death  of  George.  561 

him  every  attention.  The  eminent  surgeon,  Dr.  Richardson, 
calhng  by  the  request  of  his  pastor,  Dr.  Palmer,  and  exam- 
ining the  case,  pronounced  it  to  be  mahgnant  tumor  of  the 
intestines,  from  which  he  could  not  recover;  that  death 
might  occur  at  any  time,  but  that  he  might  Hve,  at  most,  a 
year  longer.  A  relative  of  his  wife,  who  wrote  me  an  ac- 
count of  his  case,  reported  that  on  the  announcement  of  this> 
opinion  of  the  physician,  he  simply  remarked,  calmly,  "  AYell, 
I  am  in  the  hands  of  my  Saviour ;  let  Him  do  with  me  what 
seemeth  to  Him  good."  He  reached  Pensacola  safely,  and, 
after  spending  six  weeks  or  more  with  his  sister,  Mrs. 
Thompson,  the  wife  of  Charles  V.  Thompson,  his  war  asso- 
ciate and  friend,  with  varied  symptoms  of  alternate  ease  and 
suffering,  he  sank  so  rapidly  that  I  received  a  dispatch  from 
"Mr.  Thompson  to  the  effect  that  I  must  come  at  once  if  I 
desired  to  see  him  alive.  I  was  then  living  at  Clarks^'ille, 
and,  leaving  by  the  earliest  train,  I  reached  his  bedside  in 
time  to  spend  five  days  with  him,  as  he  had  ralHed  from  the 
sinking  spell.  He  had  no  idea  of  recovery  whatever,  but 
was  in  constant  expectation  of  the  final  summons.  We  had 
precious  seasons  of  communion,  by  conversation  and  reading 
the  blessed  Word.  I  found  in  him  no  appearance  of  reluc- 
tance to  depart,  no  alarm  at  the  prospect  of  death ;  but 
while  there  was  no  appearance  of  rapture  or  exultation,  all 
was  calm  and  -peaceiul  acquiescence  in  God's  vnll.  So  it 
continued  until  Sabbath  morning  at  one  o'clock,  when  he- 
breathed  his  life  sweetly  and  quietly  away,  to  enter  into  his 
eternal  rest. 

Many  and  precious  were  the  testimonials  of  affectionate 
regard  and  high  esteem  which  I  received  from  his  friends 
and  associates  who  knew  and  loved  him  while  living,  and 
lamented  him,  now  departed.  I  select  from  them  two,  one 
from  his  beloved  and  admired  theological  teacher,  Dr.  R.  L. 
Dabney ;  the  other  from  his  classmate  in  the  University  of 
Mississippi,  the  eminent  Bishop  C.  B.  Galloway : 
36 


562  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

Dr.  Dabney's  Letter. 
University  of  Texas,  April  26,  1885. 
Jiev.  John  JV.  Waddel,  D.  I). : 

.  De.ar  Brother  :  It  was  with  mingled  grief  aiid  surprise 
that  I  read  of  the  occasion  of  3-our  sad  visit  to  Pensacola.  I 
liad  not  heard  of  your  son's  sickness,  and  I  had  been  think- 
ing of  him  only  as  j^rospering  in  that  onward  career  of 
liealth,  influence,  and  increasing  strength  which  I  had 
learned  to  associate  with  him  in  Texas.  He  was  a  cherished 
and  \alued  pupil.  I  have  before  me,  with  j)erfect  distinct- 
ness, his  gentle,  manl}',  modest,  and  Christian  deportment, 
and  his  solid  attainments.  The  teacher  ought  to  die  before 
the  pupil.  He  was  young  and  strong ;  I  am  becoming  old 
and  shattered.  Did  we  not  have  the  assurance  of  our  hea- 
Tenly  Teacher's  wisdom  and  love,  the  cutting  off  of  such 
lives  would  be  mysteries  too  painful  to  endure.  But  He  has 
said,  by  our  Christ,  "  "\Miat  I  do  thou  knowest  not  now,  but 
thou  shalt  know  hereafter."     I  need  hardly  say  that  you 

liave  my  most  profound  sympathies  in  your  trial 

Faithfully  yom^s,  etc., 

[Signed]  B.  L.  Dabney. 

Bishop  Galloway's  Letter. 

New  Orleans,  La.,  April  23,  1885. 
T\Iy  Dear  Friend  and  Brother  :  In  looking  over  my  ex- 
^changes  this  evening,  my  eye  falls  upon  a  sad  announcement 
in  the  columns  of  the  Southioestern  Presbyterian  from  your 
pen.  Alas !  how  inscrutable  the  Providence,  that  one  so  vig- 
orous and  useful  should  thus  early  fall  on  sleep.  George,  as 
jou  know,  was  my  classmate,  and  one  of  my  most  intimate 
iriends.  His  unswerving  friendship,  genial  spirit,  kindness 
of  disposition,  sparkling  humor,  and  manly  honor  are  among 
the  prized  memories  of  my  University  days.  AVe  all  recog- 
nized in  him  superior  ability,  though  infirm  health  prevented 
constant  attention  to  study.     It  gave  me  great  pleasure  to 


Closing  Reflections  563 

hear  of  his  entering  the  ministry,  and  to  learn  of  his  grow- 
ing usefulness  and  success.  But  the  grave  has  disappointed 
fondest  expectations.  That  he  passed  so  peacefully  into 
"  the  valley  of  the  shadow  "  is  the  divinest  comfort.  We  can 
suffer  bereavement  when  attempered  with  such  sweet  conso- 
lation. I  sympathize  tenderly  in  your  sorrow ;  but  for  you 
the  separation  will  not  be  long.  And  in  tendering  some 
feeble  words  of  condolence,  I  want  to  thank  my  dear  old 
chancellor  for  a  thousand  blessings  vouchsafed  to  me  through 

his  words  and  examjile 

Your  friend  and  former  student, 

[Signed]  Charles  B.  Galloway. 

But  it  is  time  for  me  to  close  these  reminiscences,  and  to 
leave  on  record  my  best  wishes  for  the  temporal,  spiritual, 
and  eternal  welfare  of  all  those  who  have  said,  thought,  and 
done  so  many  kind  things  to  me,  about  me,  and  for  me  and 
mine  during  my  sojourn  in  this  world,  in  the  multiplied  and 
varied  fields  of  labor  and  scenes  of  association  which,  in 
God's  gracious  providence,  have  been  assigned  to  me  as  my 
lot  in  life.  No  longer  engaged  in  presiding  over  institutions 
of  learning  and  directing  their  operations  for  the  advance- 
ment of  the  education  of  the  young  men  of  the  land,  I  am 
still  enabled  to  dwell  in  quiet  enjoyment  of  much  that  may 
render  life  desirable  and  valuable,  even  to  advanced  age.  I 
thank  the  gracious  Giver  of  every  good  and  perfect  gift  that 
there  is  yet  vouchsafed  to  me  the  ability  to  preach,  in  an 
humble  way,  the  blessed  gospel  of  the  Son  of  God,  and  to 
pray,  with  earnest  heart  and  devout  spirit,  for  the  conver- 
sion of  sinners,  and  for  the  growth  in  grace  and  the  edifica- 
tion of  the  church.  Surely  should  I  bless  God  that  I  have 
been  permitted  to  behold  the  wondi'ous  advance  of  the 
world  in  every  department  of  Christian  civilization ;  in  sci- 
ence, statesmanship,  invention,  discovery,  and,  above  all,  the 
openmg  of  "  the  dark  places  of  the  earth,  which  are  full  of 


564  John  N.  AYaddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

tlie  habitations  of  cruelty,''  and  the  shedding  into  them  of  the 
light  of  divine  truth,  borne  by  the  hands  of  the  thousands 
of  devoted  missionaries  of  the  cross.  Never  -was  there  such 
a  day  of  good  things  witnessed  on  this  earth  before  !  While, 
therefore,  the  j)owers  of  darkness  are  awake,  and  massing 
theu'  forces  for  a  fearful  warfare  against  the  truth,  and  wick- 
edness "  is  abroad  in  terrible  arra_y,"  jet  it  is  the  trust  un- 
shaken of  the  soldier  of  the  cross,  that  when  the  conflict  is 
joined  the  issue  is  not  doubtful,  but  the  victory  shall  be  de- 
clared in  the  destruction  of  the  enemy  and  in  the  establish- 
ment of  "the  new  heavens  and  the  new  earth,  wherein 
dwelleth  righteousness !  '* 


APPENDIX. 


Xo.  1. 

Correspondence  on  the  Subject  of  the  Professorship  of  Pas- 
toral Theology  and  Church  Polity  in  the  TnEOLOGiCAii 
Seminary  at  Danville,  Ky. 


Buffalo,  May  30,  1854. 

Hev.  John  JSF.  Waddel^  D.  D.  : 

Rev.  and  Dear  Sir:  The  undersigned  have  gratification  to 
inform  you  that,  as  a  committee  appointed  by  the  General 
Assembly,  we  have  been  selected  to  certify  you  that,  on  the 
29th  inst.,  you  were  unanimously  elected  (one  vote  only  to 
the  contrary)  by  that  venerable  body  to  fill  the  chair  of 
Church  Government  and  Pastoral  Theology  in  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Danville,  Ky.  We  take  great  pleasure 
in  transmitting  to  you  the  above  intelligence,  and  cannot 
but  indulge  the  fondly  cherished  hope  that  you  will  gratify 
your  brethren  of  the  Assembly,  and  those  of  the  Southwest 
generally,  in  accepting  the  exalted  station  to  which  you 
have  been  so  unanimously  called. 

Youi'  brethren  in  the  Lord, 

[Signed]  John  T.  Edgar, 

R.  B.  McMuLLiN, 
C.  S.  Palmore. 

B. 

The  undersigned  members  of  the  General  Assembly  met 
at  Buffalo  from  the  Presbyteries  of  the  Southwest,  feel  gTeat 
gratification  at,  and  contributed  to  the  election  of  Eev.  Dr. 
J.  N.  Waddel  to  the  professorship  of  Pastoral  Theology  and 
Church  Polity  in  the  Theological  Seminaiw  at  Danville,  Ky. 
We  feel  great  personal  interest  in  his  acceptance  of  the 

565 


566  Appendix. 

• 
office  tendered  him  with  so  much  unanimity,  and  trust  that 
he  will  take  the  call  of  the  church  as  the  call  of  Divine 
Providence,  and  consent  to  accept,  with  other  dear  brethren 
already  in  the  institution,  a  part  of  the  responsibility  and 
gratification  of  building  up  a  great  seminary  in  the  South- 
west. And  in  order  that  he  may  feel  an  assurance  of  all 
necessary  support,  w-e  exj^ress  the  conviction  that  the  neces- 
sary endowment  for  the  support  of  this  professorship  may 
soon  be  collected  in  those  departments  of  the  chui'ch  which 
w^e  represent,  and  we  further  add  that  we  will  contribute  to 
this  object  by  all  the  influence  we  can  exert. 
[Signed] 

W^L  W^L^MS,}  Pre%<en/  ofX<uhmlle. 
Alexander  Smith,  Presbytery  of  Maury. 
E.  R.  Evans,  Presbytery  of  Memphis. 
Jahleel  WooDBKiDGE,  Preshytery  of  Louisiana, 
H.  M.  Painter,  Presbytery  of  Mississippi. 
J.  E.  C.  DoRE^rcs,  Presbytery  of  Louisiana. 
R.  B.  McMuLLiN,  Presbytery  of  Knoxville. 
J.  H.  Lorance,  Presbytery  of  Tuscumbia. 
J.  M.  Cochran,  Presbytery  of  West  Texas. 
S.  J.  P.  Anderson,  Presbytery  of  St  Louis. 
W.  H.  Pawling,  Lnclepeyidence,  Mo. 
James  Park,  Presbytery  of  Holston. 

C. 

Indh^idual  Communications  on  the  Same  Topic. 

Nashville,  June  22,  1854. 
Hev).  Dr.  Waddel: 

My  Dear  Brother:  I  reached  home  last  evening,  and 
hasten  to  acknowledge  your  communication  to  me  of  the 
13th  inst.  I  am  sorry  that,  owing  to  my  detention  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  consequent  delay  in  reaching  home,  I  have  been 
prevented  from  responding  to  your  letter  to  me  until  this 
date.  It  would  have  afforded  still  greater  pleasure  than  I 
have  felt  on  arriving  at  my  home,  to  have  received  from  you 
an  answer  to  the  official  note  which  I  forwarded  to  you 
from  Buffalo,  more  satisfying  than  the  one  I  have  received, 
viz.,  that  you  felt  it  your  duty  to  accept  the  professorship 
tendered  to  you  so  unanimously  by  your  brethren  at  Buffalo. 
Yes,  so  imanimously,  for  in  all  my  life  I  have  never  known 


Appendix.  567 

an  instance  of  more  united  and  harmonious  sentiment  and 
action,  touching  any  matter  connected  with  the  chui'ch  or 
government  of  God's  Providence.  But  perhaps  I  ought 
not  to  have  expected  a  more  favorable  reply  than  the  on& 
you  have  so  promptly  and  kindly  sent  me. 

Be  assured,  my  dear  brother,  that  not  only  myself,  but  all 
your  brethren  in  the  Southwest,  are  ardently  desirous  that 
you  will  feel  it  your  duty,  in  the  providence  of  God,  to  fill 
the  chair  in  the  seminary,  which  thus  far  has  been  so  sig-- 
nally  prosperous  and  promising. 

In  a  convention  held  by  a  large  number  of  brethren,  an- 
terior to  your  nomination  in  the  Assembly,  an  almost  unani- 
mous expression  was  given  by  them  all  that  you,  of  all  men. 
in  our  portion  of  Zion,  were  the  man  best  endowed  and  best 
qualified  to  fill  the  station  then  to  be  filled  by  your  assem- 
bled brethren  at  Buffalo. 

It  seemed  to  me,  as  it  did  to  them,  that  an  expression  sc^ 
harmonious,  and  so  unanimous,  ought  to  be  considered  b;5r 
you  as  an  unequivocal  call  from  the  Great  Head  of  our  be- 
loved church  for  your  services  in  one  of  his  schools  of  the^ 
prophets.  But  I  will  not  doubt  that,  upon  more  mature  re- 
flection, you  will  feel  constrained,  after  making  more  fre- 
quent suppHcations  to  the  throne  of  grace  for  direction,  to 
accede  to  the  wishes  of  your  brethren. 

May  God  bring  you  to  such  a  decision  as  shall  be  for  Hi» 
own  glory  and  the  best  interests  of  the  seminary,  estabhshed 
under  his  superintending  providence.  Please  let  me  hear 
from  you  as  soon  as  your  mind  wdll  allow  you,  in  regai'd  to 
the  question  of  your  acceptance,  in  order  that  I  may  mako 
known  through  the  press  to  your  brethren,  whether  their 
choice  of  you  has  met  your  sanction,  or  otherwise. 

In  haste,  but  very  truly  and  affectionately,  your  brother 

in  Christ, 

John  T.  Edgak. 

,  Prom  Dr.  Humphrey. 

Steamer  Fashion,  near  Cairo,  III., 
June  1,  1854. 

Rev.  Jno.  JST.  Waddel,  D.  I), : 

Eev.  and  Dear  Sir  :  Just  before  my  departure  from  Louis- 
ville for  St.  Louis,  I  received  the  intelligence  of  your  elec- 
tion to  a  professorship  in  the  Damdlle  Theological  Seminary 


568  Appendix. 

hy  the  General  Assembly.  Permit  me  to  say  in  this  hmrried 
way,  that  this  action  of  the  Assembly  has  been  taken,  not 
only  with  the  concurrence,  but  nnder  the  advice  of  the  im- 
mediate friends  of  the  seminary,  including  the  Faculty, 
directors,  etc.  For  myself,  I  assure  3-0 u  of  a  warm  welcome 
should  the  providence  of  God  open  the  way  for  your  re- 
moval to  Danville.  You  will  have  in  detail  from  Dr.  Breck- 
enridge  the  position  of  the  whole  affair.  The  endowment 
of  the  professorship  to  which  you  are  elected  is  to  be  raised 
in  the  Southwest.  The  only  question  was,  whether  you 
should  be  apj^ojnted  in  advance  of  the  endowment,  or  after 
it  was  secured.  The  Assembly,  it  seems,  has  judged  it  best 
to  make  the  appointment  now,  with  the  belief,  no  doubt, 
that  your  election  would  secure  the  endowment  forthwith. 

I  hope,  my  dear  sir,  that  you  will  be  led,  in  the  providence 
of  God,  to  go  to  Danville,  and  take  part  in  the  great  and 
hopeful  work  we  have  in  hand.  I  have  received  only  a  tele- 
graphic notice  of  your  election,  with  no  particulars.  This 
fact,  and  the  confusion  of  a  steamboat,  must  excuse  the 
.meagreness  of  this  note. 

I  shall  return  to  Louisville  in  the  course  of  three  weeks, 
'when  I  shall  be  happy  to  hear  from  you. 
Very  truly  and  respectfully, 

Edwaed  p.  Humphrey. 

From  Dr.  Edgar. 

Nashville,  fTuhj  10,  1854. 
Dr.  Waddel: 

My  Dear  Brother  :  Yours  of  the  29th  ultimo  reached  me 
last  night,  and  I  hasten  this  morning  to  acknowledge  its  re- 
ception. I  should  be  very  sorry  if  you  thought,  from  my 
last  to  you  (containing  the  official  announcement  of  Dr. 
Edgar  as  Moderator  of  the  Assembly),  that  I  wished  jou.  to 
come  to  a  decision  as  to  your  filling  our  vacant  chair  at 
Danville  before  the  most  mature  deliberation  on  your  part 
had  taken  place.  No,  my  dear  brother,  if  anything  I  wrote 
left  such  an  impression  on  your  mind,  rest  assured  it  was 
not  so  intended,  but  was  the  result  of  my  anxiety  to  have  an 
answer  from  you,  which  I  might  soon  publish,  telling  my 
brethren  that  you  had  accepted  your  appointment,  thus 
giving  joy  in  both  our  Synods,  Kentucky  and  Nashville.  I 
shall  take  no  steps  in  the  matter  until  I  hear  from  you  again. 


Appendix.  569 

livhen  I  hope  to  be  able  to  say  to  all  concerned  that  you  have 
accepted  the  chair  assigned  you. 

In  haste,  but  affectionately  yours,  J.  T.  Edgar. 


No.  2. 

Correspondence  on  the  Occasion  of  my  Resignation  of  the 
Chancellorship  of  the  University  of  Mississippi. 

A. 

Resolutions  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

Oxford,  July  27,  1874. 

Whereas  the  Rev.  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  for 
nine  years  the  honored  Chancellor  of  the  Uniyersity  of  Mis- 
sissippi, did,  on  the  26th  ultimo,  tender  to  the  Board  of 
Trustees  the  resignation  of  his  office ;  and  whereas,  in  com- 
pliance with  the  earnest  entreaty  of  the  Board,  he  has  kept 
his  final  decision  under  consideration  for  tho  space  of  one 
month,  with  no  change  of  purpose,  and  without  consenting 
to  revoke  said  resignation  :  therefore, 

Eesolved,  1,  That  the  Board  feel  constrained,  however 
much  they  regret  his  decision,  to  accept  his  resignation. 
^  Resolved,  2,  That  we  hereby  express  our  high  apprecia- 
tion of  the  great  moral  worth,  and  of  the  learning,  talents, 
and  executive  ability,  of  the  retiring  chancellor. 

Besolced,  3,  That  we  tender  to  him  our  most  hearty 
thanks  for  the  able  and  efficient  manner  in  which  he  has  for 
so  many  years  presided  over  the  University,  and  discharged 
the  dehcate  and  responsible  duties  of  his  office. 

Resolved,  4,  That  we  hereby  express  our  sincere  wish  that 
his  steps  may  be  guided  in  the  paths  of  usefulness  and 
honor  in  the  future,  as  in  the  past. 

B. 

Dr.  Garland's  Note  Accompanying  the  Resolutions  of  the 
Faculty  on  the  Same  Occasion. 

Unr^ersity  of  Mississippi,  October  9,  1874. 
Dr.  Waddel: 

My  Dear  Sir  :  I  take  much  pleasm-e  in  forwarding  to  you 
the  accompanying  extract  from  the  journal  of  the  Faculty. 


570  Appendix. 

Allow  me  to  add  that  no  expression  of  the  Faculty,  collec- 
tively, can  convey  to  you  the  regret  that  I  indimdually  feel 
in  partinof  with  you.     "With  the  i^rayer  that  God  may  render 
your  life  long  and  useful  and  haj^i^y,  I  am  truly  yours, 
[Signed]  L.  C.  Gauland, 

Secretary  of  the  Faculty. 

Resolutions  of  the  Faculty  of  the  Untv'ersity. 

The  committee  aiDpointed  to  report  a  minute  in  reference 
to  the  retiring  Chancellor  beg  leave  to  submit  the  following 
action : 

Whereas  the  Eev.  John  N.  Waddel  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  the 
honored  Chancellor  of  the  University,  and  the  executive  or- 
gan of  the  Faculty,  did,  on  the  26th  of  June  last,  tender  to 
the  Board  of  Trustees  his  resig-nation  of  the  office  of  Chan- 
cellor, which  he  had  so  long  and  so  honorably  filled ;  and 
whereas  the  trustees,  after  earnest  endeavors  to  prevail  on 
said  Chancellor'  to  withdraw  his  resignation,  did  accept  tlie 
same,  so  that  he  is  now  no  longer  a  member  of  this  Faculty : 
therefore, 

Resolved,  1,  That  we  hereby  express  our  high  apj)recia- 
tion  of  the  ability  and  faithfulness  with  which  our  late 
Chancellor  discharged  his  delicate  and  arduous  duties. 

Resolved,  2,  That  it  is  with  sincere  regret  that  we  part 
with  one  with  wliom  w^e  have  been  so  long  and  so  pleasantly 
associated  in  the  management  of  the  educational  interests 
of  the  Universit}'. 

Resolved,  3,  That  our  late  presiding  officer  has  our  best 
wishes  for  his  future  usefulness  and  happiness. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

[Signed]  James  A.  Lyon,  ") 

I  J.  L.  Johnson,   !-  Committee. 

F.  A.  JUNY,  ) 

On  motion,  the  above  report  was  unanimously  approved 
and  ordered  to  be  spread  upon  the  journal,  aud  the  secretaiy 
instructed  to  furnish  a  copy  of  the  same  to  Dr.  J.  N.  "Waddel. 

University  of  Mississippi,  October  9,  1874. 
I  do  hereby  certify  that  the  above  is  a  true  copy  from  the 
journal  of  the  Faculty. 

[Signed]         L.  C.  Garland,  Recording  Secretary 


Appendix.  571 

Resolutions  of  the  Students  of  the  Mississippi  Univeesity, 
Adopted  on  the  Same  Occasion. 

Key.  John  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

The  committee  appointed  at  a  previous  meeting  of  the 
students  of  the  University  of  Mississippi  to  report  suitable 
resohitions  relative  to  the  departure  of  our  late  Chancellor 
submitted  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions,  "which 
were  unanimously  adopted,  viz. : 

Whereas  our  beloved  Chancellor,  Eev.  John  N.  Waddel, 
D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  has  seen  fit  to  resign  the  position  of  Chan- 
cellor of  the  University,  over  which  he  has  so  long  and  faith- 
fully presided ;  and  whereas  the  said  Chancellor  did,  on  the 
10th  instant,  take  formal  leave  of  us  all  in  a  short  address, 
replete  wdth  affectionate  and  wise  counsel :  therefore,  be  it 

Besolved,  1,  That  we  deeply  regret  the  loss  fi-om  this  in- 
stitution of  so  good  and  great  a  man. 

Resolved,  2,  That  we  take  great  pleasure  in  recording  the 
fact  that  Dr.  Waddel  has  been  to  us  not  only  an  able  and 
faithful  instructor,  but  a  loving  and. affectionate  father. 

Resolved,  3,  That  we  do  hereby  tender  to  Dr.  Waddel 
the  most  cordial  f eehngs  of  friendship  and  high  esteem  with 
which  we  have  ever  regarded  him,  and  which  will  remain 
undiminished  and  unchanged. 

Resoli-ed,  4-,  That  we  take  this  method  to  convey  to  Dr. 
Waddel  our  heartfelt  wishes  for  the  long  continuance  of  his 
health,  success,  and  happiness,  as  well  as  that  of  his  family, 
and  that  the  blessino-  of  a  kind  Providence  mav  attend  him 
in  the  new  field  of  operations  to  which  he  has  been  invited, 
and  which  he  has  accepted. 

Resolved,  5,  That  copies  of  these  resolutions  be  transmit- 
ted to  Dr.  Waddel,  General  A.  P,  Stewart  (his  successor), 
the  trustees,  and  the  Faculty,  and  that  the  journals  of  Mem- 
phis, Tenn.,  and  of  this  State,  friendly  to  the  institution 
and  to  the  cause  of  education  in  general,  be  requested  to 
publish  the  same. 

[Signed]    E.  E.  Biggee,  Lewis  Green,  Jr  , 

Charles  H.  Leonard,  Louis  L.  McInnis, 

Wm.  Addison  Alexander,  John  F.  Bi\t:s,  Jr., 
Sam'l  a.  Witherspoon, 

Committee. 
University  of  Mississijypi,  October  IZ,  1874. 


572  Appendix. 

No.  3. 

It  is  recorded  in  the  latter  pages  of  the  body  of  this  me- 
raoir  that  I  transmitted  the  communication  of  my  resigna- 
tion of  Chancellor  of  the  Southwestern  Presbyterian  XTni- 
xversity  to  individual  members  of  the  directory  on  the  11th 
of  October,  1887,  and  this  course  I  pursued  because  the  ne- 
cessity for  it  occurred  at  a  season  of  the  year  when  it  would 
have  been  exceedingly  difficult  to  bring  the  members  of  the 
Board  together  at  Clarksville,  and  I  felt  bound  to  make 
known  the  fact  w  ithout  delay.  Some  of  the  Board  being  at 
hand,  to  them  I  could  communicate  this  decision  personally, 
but  others  w^ere  absent  from  home ;  hence  I  have  but  a  par€ 
of  the  rephes  which  I  had  expected.  The  formal  acceptance 
of  my  resignation  was  not  made  known  to  me  officially  until 
late  m  March,  1888,  after  the  Board  had  held  a  special 
meeting  to  select  a  successor.  In  the  interim  I  received  the 
following  letters  from  individual  directors,  who  w^ere  then  in 
office,  wiiich  I  propose  to  insert,  as  somewhat  more  personal 
than  a  formal  and  official  reply  to  my  paper,  and  cherished 
among  my  most  precious  memorials  of  private  association 
and  friendship. 

Prf^ate  Lettees  Receh'ed  feom  Indhtdual  Members  of  the 

DrRECTOEY    ON    THE    OCCASION    OF   MY  BeSIGNATIOX    OF   THE 

Office  of  Chancellor  of  the  Southwestern  Presbyte- 

RIA2f  UnH^ERSITY. 

A. 

Letter  from  Bev.  B.  M.  Palmer,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

New  Orleans,  La.,  October  31,  1887. 
My  Dil\r  Dr.  "Waddel  :  I  have  just  returned  home  from  a 
trip  to  New  York,  and  find  your  letter  of  the  11th,  so  painful 
in  its  contents.  I  had  sincerely  hoped  that  your  anticipa- 
tions of  failing  health  would  not  be  reahzed,  and  that  j'ou 
would  be  spared  to  the  I7niversity  at  least  a  few  years  longer. 
But  if  the  fatal  necessity  is  upon  you  of  resigning  your  im- 
portant and  responsible  office  as  Chancellor,  we  can  only 
mourn  while  we  submit  to  a  decree  which  we  have  no  power 

to  resist And  now,  venerable  and  dear  brother, 

how  shall  I  express  the  sorrow  which  I  feel  in  the  contem- 
plation of  your  withdrawal.  It  is  not  so  much  for  you  I 
moui'ii  as  for  ourselves.     If  "  the  house  of  yom*  tabernacle  " 


Appendix.  573 

be  tumbling  into  ruin,  you  have  the  better  portion  beyond, 
"  the  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens." 
But  how  can  we  do  without  you  ?  The  answer  on  your  lips 
will  be,  that  "no  man  is  necessary  to  the  Lord's  work,"  and 
that  "  He  W'ho  raised  you  up  can  supply  the  gap."  Be  it  so ; 
but  who  does  not  dread  the  transfer,  with  all  the  uncer- 
tainty of  the  change,  added  to  our  sense  of  personal  loss  and 
bereavement?  May  God's  blessing  rest  upon  your  head 
and  heart  in  this  hour  of  common  affliction  to  \  ou  and  to  us, 
and  give  us  both  grace  to  accept  His  will  as  the  final  ex- 
pression of  his  goodness  and  love  ! 

Ever  affectionately  and  truly  yours, 

[Signed]  B.  M.  Palmer. 

B. 

Letter  from  Rev.  J.  N.  Craig,  D.  D. 

Atlanta,  Ga.,  October  14,  1887. 
Dr.   Waddel : 

My  Dear  Brother  :  Yours  of  11th  inst.  is  to  hand.  I  am 
"very  sorry  to  hear  of  your  indisposition,  and  that  you  feel 
called  upon  to  lay  your  resignation  before  the  Board. 
Allow  me  a  few  words  personally — no  flattery,  of  course. 
No  man  has  any  capacity  but  that  which  God  has  given^ 
and  no  man  will  use  his  gifts  aright  unless  God  leads  him 
to  do  so  by  His  grace.  But  I  thank  God  for  the  capacity 
and  the  grace  which  he  He  has  bestowed  upon  you,  and  for 
the  long,  useful,  and  honorable  life  He  has  permitted  you  to 
lead.  My  acquaintance  wdth  you  has  been  one  of  the  bless- 
ings and  one  of  the  joys  of  my  life.  My  only  boy  is  in 
your  institution.  If  the  Lord  wdll  make  him  to  be  such  as 
yourself,  I  could  not  desire  more. 

I  hope  your  usefulness  is  yet  to  last  for  a  considerable 
time,  but  the  Lord  will  order  and  Gcheme  for  you  as  He 
sees  to  be  best ;  and  w^hatever  awaits  you  will  surely  be  of 
the  "  all  things  "  which  are  working  together  for  your  good. 

In  any,  and  in  all  events,  my  best  wishes  and  my 

sincere  prayers  will  follow  you  and  Mrs.  Waddel.  May  our 
Father  give  her  grace  for  her  future,  whatever  it  may  be. 

Sincerely  your  friend, 
[Signed]  J.  N.  Craig. 


574  Appendix. 


Letter  from  G.  W.  Macrae,  Esq. 

Mei^iphis,  Tenn.,  October  13,  1887. 
300  Front  Street. 
liev.  John  N.  Waddel,  ClarksviUe,  Tenn. : 

Dear  Doctor:  Frequent  reports  of  your  serious  illness 
have  reached  me  during  the  past  ten  days,  and  have  given 
me  much  concern.  Your  letter  of  the  11th  inst.,  received 
this  morning,  seems  to  confirm  the  truth  of  them.  It 
grieves  me  to  be  obhged  to  consider  the  matter  of  your 
resignation  at  all,  sensible  as  I  am  of  the  value  of  your 
name  and  services  to  the  institution.  And  yet  I  know  you 
would  not  offer  it  unless,  after  careful  deliberation,  you  be- 
lieved it  to  be  your  duty  to  do  so. 

Best  and  recreation  will,  no  doubt,  do  much  to  restore 
your  health  and  strength.  I  have  uo  doubt  that  a  sojourn 
durinof  the  winter  months  in  a  warmer  climate  will  be  of 
much  service  to  you,  and  I  think  you  should  avail  yourself 
of  it.  I  hope  you  may  soon  be  well  enough  to  make  the 
trip.  "With  best  wishes,  and  with  the  hope  that  you  may 
be  restored  and  spared  many  jesLVS  among  us, 
I  remain  j'our  friend  and  brother, 

[Signed]  G.  W.  Macrae. 

D. 

Letter  from  Bev.  Joseph  Bardwell,  D.  D. 

Yazoo  City,  Miss.,  October  14,  1887. 

Itev.  J.  N.  Waddel,  D.  D.,  ClarJcsvUle,  Tenn. : 

My  Dear  Brother:  Y^our  letter  of  the  11th  reached  me 
to-day.  I  am  truly  sorry  to  hear  of  the  feeble  state  of 
your  health,  and  deeply  sympathize  with  you.  As  to  your 
resignation,  I  am  prepared  to  say  for  myself,  that  I  desire 
to  keep  that  matter  in  abeyance  for  the  present.  Let  it  lie 
over  at  least  till  the  end  of  the  sessional  term.  I  am  un- 
willing to  have  you  sever  your  connection  with  the  Univer- 
sity at  least  prior  to  the  meeting  of  the  Board.  And  even 
then,  I  would  fain  hope  the  necessity  may  not  require  it. 

By  all  means  follow  the  advice  of  youi*  physicians  and 
seek  a  less  rigorous  climate  for  the  winter. 

In  a  few  words,  I  desire  your  connection  with  the  Univer- 


Appendix.  575 

sity  to  continue  through  the  present  sessional  term 

If,  in  the  Providence  of  God,  the  necessity  shall  be  laid 
upon  us  next  June  to  consider  your  resignation,  ^ve  will 
then  endeavor  to  meet  the  responsibility,  asking  for  divine 
guidance. 

I  assure  you,  my  dear  brother,  you  will  carr^^  with  you 
the  affection  and  sympathy  and  prayers  of  every  member  of 
the  Board.  May  the  Great  Head  of  the  church  direct  and 
bless  you  and  j^ours, 

Sincerely  and  fraternally, 

[Signed]  Joseph  Bae53well. 


Communications  from  the  Board  or  Directoks  at  a  SpeciaIi 
Meeting  held  March  21,  1888. 

A. 

Official  Note  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Board. 

Clarksville,  March  23,  1888. 

Rev,  J.  JSr.  Waddel,  D.  D. : 

My  Dear  Brother  :  I  wired  you  this  morning  the  action 
of  the  Board,  that  Dr.  Hersman  was  unanimously  elected 
Chancellor,  and  Dr.  Shearer  vice  chancellor;  they  also 
named  the  theological  chair  "  The  Palmer  Professorship  of 
Theology,"  and  unanimously  adopted  the  paper  of  which  I 
enclose  a  copy,  expressive  of  their  feelings  on  accepting 
your  resignation.  We  were  aU  glad  to  hear  of  your  im- 
proved health,  and  will  be  glad  to  see,  and  will  expect  you  at 
the  time  you  name.  Your  resignation  was  accepted  to  take 
effect  after  June  Commencement,  and  your  salary  continues 
to  that  date.  Kind  regards  to  Mrs.  Waddel. 
Yours  veiy  truly, 
[Signed]  D.  N.  Kennedy,  /Secretary. 

B. 

Report  of  a  Committee  Appointed  to  Prepare  a  Minute 
UPON  the  Resignation  of  Rev.  Dr.  J.  N.  Waddel  as 
Chancellor  of  the  Southwestern  Presbyterian  IlNrsER- 
sity. 

In  accepting  the  resignation  of  the  chancellorship  of  the 
Southwestern   Presbyterian   University   by  Rev.    John   N. 


576  Appendix. 

Waddel,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  the  Board  of  Directors  desii'e  ta 
jDut  on  record  their  sense  of  loss  in  this  bereavement,  and  at 
the  same  time  to  ex2:)ress  their  gratitude  to  God  that  this 
institution  has  been  permitted  to  enjoy  his  valued  services 
during  the  most  critical,  because  the  forming  period,  of  its 
history.  It  was  a  most  gracious  providence  when  the  Uni- 
versity was  first  established  and  launched  upon  its  career, 
that  this  venerable  teacher,  whose  whole  life  had  been  de- 
voted to  the  higher  education  of  young  men,  as  by  ancestral 
association  he  had  been  bound  to  it,  even  from  his  birth, 
should  be  at  hand  to  guide  it  on  its  earhest  career. 

During  the  nine  years  in  which  he  has  presided  over  its 
fortunes,  his  administration  has  been  exceptionally  success- 
ful and  fortunate,  leaving  upon  it  the  impression  of  his  own 
character  and  influence,  by  which,  as  we  hope,  it  will  be  dis- 
tinguished through  coming  time.  And  if  the  declining 
health,  which  compels  the  resignation,  should  prove  to  be 
the  disrobing  for  the  eternal  rest,  we  congratulate  our 
brother  that  his  last  work  on  earth  should  be  so  conspicu- 
ously his  best  w^ork  rendered  to  the  chui'ch  of  God,  in 
that  educational  sphere  to  w^hich  he  has  been  consecrated 
throughout  life. 

Painful  and  sad  as  this  separation  may  be  to  him,  and  to 
us,  and  irreparable  as  the  loss  may  now  appear  to  this  insti- 
tution, we  cannot  but  rejoice  in  the  grateful  applause  with 
which  his  long  and  useful  life  closes  on  earth. 

Successive  generations  will  rise  up  to  bless  his  memoiy,  of 
those  whom  he  has  trained  for  honor  and  usefulness,  whilst 
the  gi'eater  reward  awaits  him  in  the  benediction  of  the  last 
day,  "  Well  done  good  and  faithful  sei'A^ant,  enter  thou  into 
the  joy  of  thy  Lord !  "  In  entering  this  minute  in  these 
records,  and  in  transmitting  a  copy  to  Dr.  Waddel,  this 
Board  tender  to  him  their  resj)ectful  and  loving  symj^athy  in 
all  the  bodily  distress  with  which  humanity  is  so  generally 
ordained  to  terminate,  as  well  as  to  assure  him  of  the  last- 
ing remembrance  with  which  his  name  will  be  cherished,  as 
it  is  embalmed  in  the  history  of  the  University. 

Our  constant  and  fervent  prayer  is  that  his  end  may  be- 
peace,  and  his  reward  great  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
[Signed] 

D.  N.  Kennedy,  Secretary. 


Appendix.  577 

Note  of  Professor  G.  F.  Nicolassen,  Secretary  of  the  Fac- 
ulty, Accompanying  a  Copy  of  the  Action  of  that  Body 
ON  Occasion  of  the  Resignation  of  the  Chancellor. 

Cl.arksville,  April  5,  1888. 
My  Dear  Dr.  Waddel  :  It  aifords  me  very  great  pleasure 
to  send  jou  a  copy  of  the  paper  adopted  by  the  Faculty  this 
afternoon.  It  was  drawn  up  by  Dr.  Price,  and  cordially  en- 
dorsed by  us  all.  The  minute  will  be  entered  on  our  record 
book,  and  a  copy  will  be  sent  to  the  church  and  town  papers. 
Very  truly,  [Signed]  G.  F.  Nicolassen. 

C. 

Action  of  the  Faculty  of  the  Southwestern  Presbyterian^ 

University. 

In  view  of  the  retirement  of  Dr.  J.  N.  Waddel  from  the 
chancellorship  of  this  institutions  we  desire,  as  a  Faculty,  to 
place  on  record  an  expression  of  our  regret  at  the  dissolution 
of  the  relations  which  have  so  happily  subsisted  between 
him  and  us  during  a  number  of  years,  our  high  esteem  for 
him  as  an  executive  officer  and  instructor,  and  our  love  for 
him  as  a  friend. 

The  obligations  of  this  institution  to  Dr.  Waddel  cannot 
be  fully  estimated.  Coming  into  office,  as  he  did,  at  the 
commencement  of  ita  organization  as  a  University,  he  has 
done  much  towards  developing  its  system  and  imparting  to 
it  an  elevated  Christian  spirit.  His  extraordinary  influence 
over  young  men  has  been  largely  the  cause  of  the  high, 
standard  of  morality  and  college  honor  which  has  been  main- 
tained by  the  student  body,  while  his  great  reputation 
throughout  the  whole  South  has  secured  the  confidence  of 
the  public  in  the  worth  and  success  of  the  institution.  Ta 
him,  as  the  presiding  officer  and  our  associate  in  the  Fac- 
ulty, we  feel  that  we  owe,  in  no  small  measure,  the  unbroken 
haiTQony  which  has  prevailed  in  our  body.  His  unassuming, 
just,  and  conciliatory  bearing  would  have  rendered  dissen- 
sions impossible,  even  if  the  occasion  for  them  had  arisen. 

As  he  retires  from  us,  to  spend,  as  we  trust,  a  season  of 
rest,  well-earned  by  his  laborious  and  useful  life,  we  delight 
to  render  him  this  unanimous  tribute  of  our  veneration  and 
affection,  and  to  pray  that  he  may  yet  live  to  enjoy  many 
years  of  comfort  and  of  usefulness. 

[Signed  |  G.  F.  Nicolassen,  Secretary. 

37 


578  Appendix. 


D. 


Action  of  the  Students  of  the  Southwestern  Presbyterian 
University  on  the  Occurrence  of  the  Seventy-fifth 
Birthday  of  the  Chancellor. 

It  became  known  among  the  students  that  the  2ncT  day  of 
April,  1887,  'would  mark  the  seventy-fifth  anniversary  of  the 
birthday  of  Ker.  J.  N.  AVaddel,  D.  D.  In  accordance  with 
a  resolution  adoj^ted  by  the  student '  body,  which  was  kept 
profoundly  secret  from  him,  they  agreed  that  immediately 
after  morning  ^^rayer  in  the  chapel  Dr.  Waddel  should  be 
addressed  by  a  rej^resentative  student,  congratulated  upon 
the  occasion,  and  presented  with  a  magnificent  copy  of  the 
Bible  in  the  name  of  the  students.  The  chancellor  having 
olficiated  as  usual  in  leading  the  devotions  of  the  Faculty 
and  student  body,  was,  in  a  most  unexpected  manner,  ad- 
dressed by  Mr.  W.  L.  Frierson,  a  student  of  high  standing, 
from  Shelbyville,  Tenn.,  as  follows : 

*'  Beverend  Sir  :  On  behalf  of  the  student  bodj^,  it  is  my 
pleasure  this  morning  to  extend  to  j'ou  our  congratulations 
that  you  have  so  happily  witnessed  the  close  of  your  sevent}'- 
fifth  year ;  that  you  have  attained  to  three-quarters  of  a  cen- 
tury of  life,  and  of  a  life,  too,  which  stands  before  us  as  a 
mirror,  before  which  we  may  fitly  trim  and  adorn  the  char- 
acters we  are  building. 

*'  If,  sir,  it  will  gratify  you  to  know  in  what  high  esteem 
you  are  held  by  the  students  over  whom  you  are  called  to 
preside;  if  the  good-will  of  boys  can  afford  you  any  plea- 
sure, then  I  am  hapj^y  to  say  that  no  man  could  possess,  in 
a  higher  degree,  our  love,  confidence,  and  respect  than  do 
you.  We  feel  toward  you  not  merely  that  respect  which 
gray  hairs  always  command  of  youth,  but,  in  addition  to 
this,  that  admiration  which  only  a  noble  life  and  a  godly  ex- 
ample can  inspii'e.  In  your  fair  and  impartial  treatment  of 
aU  students ;  in  the  confidence  you  have  reposed  in  us  ;  in 
your  forbearance  in  the  class-room,  and  in  the  general  man- 
agement of  the  institution,  we  have  had  aU  that  the  most 
exacting  could  ask.  We  have  always  found  you  ready 
and  anxious  to  aid  in  our  pleasure  so  far  as  consistent  with 
our  good.  And  "when,  occasionally,  it  has  seemed  best  to 
deny  us  our  requests,  we  have  felt  that  we  should  yield 
without  a  murmur,  reposing,  as  we  did,  full  confidence  in 


Appendix.  679 

your  TA-isdom,  aud  knowing  full  well  that  your  action  was 
prompted  by  your  deep  interest  in  our  welfare.  In  the 
kindly  warnings  and  friendly  advice  which  you  have  given 
us  in  private ;  in  the  many  hospitalities  show^n  us  by  you 
and  your  good  wife ;  in  the  hearty  welcome  w^hich  you  have 
always  accorded  us  at  your  home,  we  have  recognized  a 
father's  influence.  By  your  course,  sir,  you  have  awakened 
in  every  heart  here  chords  of  love  and  sympathy,  w^hich  vi- 
brate at  the  very  mention  of  3-oiu'  name. 

"In  bringing  a  testimonial  of  our  regard,  it  seems  to  us 
that  the  most  appropriate,  and  that  which  w^e  knew  you 
would  most  highly  prize,  was  this  Book  of  Books,  upon 
which,  as  a  foundation,  you  have  erected  the  towering  su- 
l^erstructure  of  a  Christian  life,  the  rock  upon  which,  we  be- 
lieve, the  only  true  and  enduring  hopes  of  all  ages  have 
rested.  Now,  sir,  I  have  the  honor  to  present  to  you,  in  the 
name  of  the  students,  this  memento,  accompanied  by  the 
best  wishes  of  our  one  hiuidred  and  fifty  students  for  every 
day  of  life  that  yet  remains  for  you." 

Besponse  of  Dr.  Waddel. 

"  Sm :  In  responding  to  your  beautiful  and  eloquent  ad- 
dress, my  first  remark  is  that  this  occasion  is  to  me  a  com- 
jDlete  surjmse.  On  entering  iipon  the  regular  duties  of  the 
day,  I  had  not  the  slightest  anticipation  of  such  an  event  as 
has  just  transpired.  Allow  me  to  add  that,  on  this  very  ac- 
count, it  is  all  the  more  to  be  cherished  and  prized.  To  you, 
youug  gentlemen,  I  have  further  to  say  that,  for  the  emo- 
tions now  struggling  within,  I  find  no  adequate  utterance. 
I  cannot  command  language  adequate  to  convey  a  true  rep- 
resentation  of  the  feelings  which  your  kindness  has  inspired. 
Yet  you  will  accept  my  simple  and  unadorned  declaration, 
that  I  am  deeply  penetrated  wdth  a  grateful  appreciation  of 
the  delicate  thoughtfulness  that  gave  rise  to  the  conception 
of  this  method  of  observing  my  birthday.  The  graceful 
propriety  wdth  which  the  whole  scene  has  been  presented 
cannot  fail  to  elicit  the  gratification  of  all  present.  Permit 
me  to  say,  however,  that  "you  do  me  honor  overmuch"  in. 
the  beautifully-expressed  and  highly-finished  compliments 
paid  me  by  yoiu'  gifted  speaker;  and  yet  I  am  not  suffi- 
ciently unselfish  to  decline  accej)ting  them,  since  to  me  they 
are  replete  wdth  priceless  value  as  declarations  of  your  own 


580  Appendix. 

con-vdctions.  They  shall  be  laid  away  in  memory  as  trea- 
sures not  to  be  surrendered,  and  among  my  most  valued  pos- 
-sessions. 

"Let  me  add,  that  among  the  most  kindly  utterances 
given  to-day,  there  is  one  which  I  honestly  claim  as  but  just 
to  myself;  that  is,  when  speaking  of  my  intercourse  with 
my  pupils,  it  was  said  that  the  characteristic  of  my  treat- 
ment of  them  was  uniform  kindness.  The  larger  portion  of 
my  life,  now  somewhat  protracted,  has  been  devoted  to  the 
]Dractical  business  of  teaching.  From  my  eighteenth  year 
almost  to  this  day  I  have  been  associated  with  young  men 
and  boys.  So  closely  have  I  been  connected  with  that  class 
that  I  may  say,  without  exaggeration,  that  we  have  become, 
in  a  sense,  identified.  My  sympathies  are  with  them ;  I 
have  come  to  comprehend  their  nature,  and  they  have 
learned  to  ap23reciate  my  mode  of  thought  and  action  in  our 
TQutual  relations.  Hence,  as  I  have  advanced  in  this  line  of 
life,  I  have  become  more  and  more  convinced  of  the  truth- 
fulness and  proj^riety  of  the  motto  often  uttered  from  this 
rostrum,  which  accords  to  the  student  *  the  largest  liberty 
consistent  with  the  recognition  of  authority,'  or,  to  express 
it  in  fewer  w^ords,  'Liberty  without  license,  and  authority 
"without  despotism.' 

"I  will  add,  that  if  there  does  appear  to  be  any  wdsdom  or 
skill  in  my  administration  of  the  affairs  of  the  institution,  I 
hasten  to  point  out  to  you  the  true  secret  of  my  success. 
"Well  do  I  remember  the  expression  used  by  an  eminent 
Georgian,  long  years  ago,  in  reference  to  President  Nott,  of 
Union  College,  N.  Y.  Dr.  Nott  presided  over  that  institu- 
tion for  a  half  century  with  wonderful  success.  That  you 
may  appreciate  the  force  of  my  illustration,  you  must  know 
that  Union  College,  in  those  clays,  was  considered  the 
'  Botany  Bay '  for  such  students  as  could  not  be  governed 
-elsewhere.  The  gentleman  who  made  the  remark  was  an 
alumnus  of  that  institution,  and  he  asserted  that  "Dr.  Nott 
governed  Union  College  by  prayer."  I  can  safely  say  that 
for  any  success  which  has  attended  my  administration,  I 
sincerely  and  humbly  believe  that  to  gracious  answers  to 
prayer  I  am  entirely  indebted.  Its  interests,  more  general 
or  minute,  have  formed  the  burden  of  my  thoughts  by  day 
and  by  night.  Realizing,  as  I  do  at  all  times,  my  own  in- 
ability unaided,  to  devise  that  which  is  wise  and  for  the  best 


Appendix.  581 

interests  of  the  institution,  tliis  great  entei'i^rise  of  Chris- 
tian education,  I  have  earnestly  and  habitually  sought  and 
obtained  the  help  that  has  brought  to  us  the  present  meas- 
ure  of  success. 

"In  conclusion,  I  thank  you  for  the  peculiar  form  in  which 
you  have  chosen  to  embody  3'our  affectionate  observance  of 
this  memorial  era  of  my  life — the  blessed  volume  of  inspira- 
tion— the  book  of  books — the  one,  of  all  others,  most  wor- 
thy to  be  2)rized.  Most  heartily  and  truly  do  I  thank  God 
that,  of  your  number,  so  large  a  proportion  are  praying* 
Christian  men-! 

"And  now,  as  I  close  these  remarks,  I  have  a  request  to 
make  of  you.  I  make  it  of  my  highly-esteemed  colleagues. 
I  make  it  of  you,  iny  kind-hearted  and  attached  pupils. 
Give  me  an  interest  in  your  prayers ! 

"  May  the  blessing  of  Almighty  God,  our  heavenl}'  Father, 
rest  upon  you  all,  both  in  this  life  and  in  that  which  is  to 
come !     Amen." 


On  2^ ages  551  and  552  of  this  memoir,  it  is  recorded  that 
the  ceremonies  of  the  inaugui'ation  of  the  chancellor-elect, 
Dr.  C.  C.  Hersman,  were  conducted  in  regular  form.  It  is 
further  stated  that,  after  the  conclusion  of  these  interesting 
exercises,  a  portrait  of  myself  was  unveiled,  accompanied 
by  an  address  delivered  in  his  own  inimitable  style  bv  Dr. 
B.  M.  Palmer.  ^— 

Address. 

"Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  The  2)leasing  duly  is  assigned 
me  of  drawing  aside  this  veil  and  of  presenting  to  the  Uni- 
versit}',  in  the  name  of  the  artist,  W.  J.  MacCcrmac,  that 
which  will  be  disclosed  to  view.  You  recognize  the  likeness, 
and  I  am  sure  that,  in  your  grateful  api^lause,  the  kind 
donor  will  find  his  sufficient  reward. 

"  Two  faces  now  hang  upon  these  walls.  In  the  first  is 
revived  the  memory  of  the  past;  the  first  effort  to  plant 
liere  an  institution  of  learning,  to  lay  the  foundation,  hidden 
j)erhaps  beneath  the  soil,  upon  which  has  been  reared  the 
l^roud  superstructure  we  now  behold.  In  the  second  is  pre- 
sented the  realization  of  the  early  hopes — the  young  bud  of 
promise  expanding  into  the  bloom  of  our  present  prosperity 
and  enlargement.     The  time  will  come  (God  grant  that  it 


582  Appendix. 

be  not  too  soou)  •>;\hen  another  picture  will  here  be  hung— - 
the  historic  link  between  these  two — presenting  the  face  and 
form  of  one  to  whose  wise  counsel  and  unselfish  devotion, 
more  than  to  those  of  any  living  man,  the  transfonnation  of 
Stewart  College  into  the  Southwestern  Presbyterian  Univer- 
sity was  accomplished  • 

"  Yener.ible  and  Dear  Sir  :  There  are  men  whom  we 
could  wish  to  live  forever,  yet  it  would  be  cruel  selfishness 
to  detain  3'ou  always  from  the  world  beyond  the  stars — 

*  T\Tiere  the  saints  of  all  ages  in  fellowship  meet, 
And  the  smile  of  the  Lord  is  the  feast  of  the  soul  ; ' 

but  we  are  obliged  to  say  that  we  part  from  you  to-night,  in 
your  official  relations,  with  unspeakable  sadness.  Gladly  as 
we  welcome  your  successor,  and  sincerely  as  we  pledge 
loyalty  to  him  as  the  chieftain  under  whose  banner  we  are 
to  be  led,  still  it  pains  us  to  the  heart  to  see  the  robe  of 
office  removed  from  your  shoulders  to  those  of  another. 

"Gentlemen  of  the  Board,  and  friends  of  the  University, 
it  was  an  auspicious  day  for  Clarksville  when  we  laid  our 
hands  upon  this  apostle  of  education  in  the  Southwest — this 
Nestor  among  the  Greeks;  and  we  bear  the  willing  testi- 
mony that  his  administration  during  the  past  nine  years  haa 
been  one  of  exceptional  success. 

"Dr.  Waddel,  after  more  than  fifty  years  of  active  service, 
the  infirmities  of  declining  age  induce  you  to  seek  the  Tuscu- 
lum  where,  in  dignified  repose,  you  may  end  your  days.  You 
are  sitting  in  the  glow  of  your  life's  Guuset.  Three  times,  in 
journeying  to  and  fro  between  Clarksville  and  ray  distant 
home,  I  have  gazed  upon  the  splendor  with  which  the  king 
of  day  often  sinks  to  rest.  Gathering  the  cm'tains  around 
his  bed,  he  threw  upon  those  clouds  such  a  glow  of  mingled 
2:)urple  and  gold  as  ravished  the  eye.  The  mountain  cloud 
fiung  its  gigantic  form  against  the  sky  ;  along  its  crest  and 
down  its  slope  was  a  border  of  burnished  gold,  while  the. 
deeper  blue  of  its  body  was  transformed  by  the  radiance 
into  the  richest  pui-ple,  such  as  jjriest  or  emi)eror  never  wore. 
Above,  around  the  whole,  colors  of  brilliant  hue  inflamed  the 
sky,  until,  in  the  raj^ture  of  the  soul,  one  could  but  exclaim, 
*  Surely,  this  is  the  gate  of  the  x^alace  of  the  eternal  king.' 

"So,  my  brother,  as  troops  of  friends  gather  around  you 
to-day,  you  may  see  in  their  admiring  love  the  reflection  of 
your  own  useful  and  fortunate  life.     The  shade  of  your 


Appendix.  583 

venerated  father  rises  before  my  thought,  sniTounded  by 
the  shades  of  statesmen  and  orators — the  Calhouns,  the 
McDuffies,  the  Longstreets — who  shaped  the  age  jnst  before 
our  own;  and  around  your  hving  form  assemble  the  living 
forms  of  those  who  now  fill  the  places  of  trust,  and  are 
shaping  the  destiny  of  the  present.  It  is  not  given  to  many 
men  to  know  that  they  belong  to  history ;  to  read  upon  her 
scroll,  beneath  the  fame  of  an  illustrious  sire,  the  resplend- 
ent fame  of  an  equally  illustrious  son.  It  is  not  often  given 
to  men,  amid  the  applauses  of  earth,  to  ascend  and  be  with 
the  immortals.  May  God  in  heaven,  my  friend  and  brother, 
bless  you  with  peace  even  to  the  end,  and  give  to  us  both  to 
drink  together  of  the  river  of  life  from  beneath  His  throne! " 


I 


